It all started a month ago, on August 15, in the Rennes locker room after the defeat of Rennes in Marseille. A violent argument broke out between Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe, caused according to several sources by tensions on the ground and disagreements on the attitude to adopt during this crucial meeting. The exchanges were so lively that they rocked the whole locker room of De Zerbi and led to a crisis within the club, forcing management to make rapid decisions to prevent the situation from degenerating more. The consequences were immediate: Rabiot and Rowe were pushed towards the exit, signing respectively at the very end of the transfer window with AC Milan and Bologna, transfers on the Gong which distant them from Ligue 1 but offered them a new opportunity in Serie A. Ironie du fate, a month later, the two former teammates are found on the lawn, but this time Rabiot was established from the start with AC Milan under the direction of his mentor Allegri, while Rowe entered the 75th minute, replacing Nicolò Cambiaghi for Bologna.
This symbolic duel illustrates perfectly how football can transform an explosive tension into a new professional chance. Reunions announced by Rabiot himself: “I wrote a message for the Marseille supporters, telling them everything I think: they always appreciated me and I lived an intense season there. Rowe is nothing special. We even talked about when he signed in Bologna and I in Milan; We sent messages to wish each other luck and tell ourselves that we will see each other in San Siro. It will be great to see it, it's a good guy. What happened is a cloakroom story, but that hasn't changed my relationship with him: he will be happy to see him and he will be happy to see me. »» In the coming weeks, the two players should become masterpieces from their respective teams, each finding Serie A with a leading role. For the time being, and at least on this inaugural meeting, the French had the advantage over English.
Already solid rabiot, anecdotal rowe
Arrived only last Thursday, Adrien Rabiot already seemed to be perfectly integrated into AC Milan, as if he had been playing in this team for months. As soon as he kicks off, he got into spaces with disconcerting ease, analyzing the physiognomy of the match in the first half and taking the measure of his opponents as well as his teammates. But it was in the second half that French truly made his talent speak: physical power, impeccable technique and vision of the game allowed him to relaunch the game and impose his rhythm in the middle. Holder from his first match, the now former OM's midfielder immediately found a remarkable connection with Luka Modric, bringing at the same time personality, international experience and balance to the team. Journalists and supporters are already won over: its impact on the flock of important shortcomings and makes him a key element of Milan from his beginnings. Each touched ball, each acceleration and each technical relay seems to remember why the club has bet on it, and it is obvious that Rabiot will play a central role in the success of this season.
For his part, Jonathan Rowe had much more discreet debut in Bologna. Entering in the 75ᵉ minute, he touched 11 balloons, succeeding 7 passes out of 7, but did not really weigh on the attacking game: no key passes, no successful centers, no aerial duel won, and three losses of the ball. An almost ghostly performance, to the point that the Italian press seems to have completely forgotten it today. A great anecdotal for the young Englishman, who will quickly have to find his marks if he wants to win in the Italian championship and not stay in the shadow of his promising but timid beginnings. In summary, Adrien Rabiot has already made a strong impression in Serie A, splashing from his talent the Italian lawn and confirming that Milan achieved a winning blow by recruiting it. Its technique, its power and its reading of the game suggest a central role in the club's ambitions this season. Jonathan Rowe will still have to fight to find his place and make his potential speak to Bologna, but these beginnings, even discreet, constitute a first step on which he will be able to rely to progress and win in a demanding championship. The future promises to be promising for the two former teammates, each in their own way.
