Rabiot’s Comeback Countdown: Milan-Inter Derby Sparks a Serie A Showdown

Rabiot’s Return to the Derby Battlefield

Milan are gearing up for the Derby della Madonnina against Inter on Sunday, with heavy anticipation around French midfielder Adrien Rabiot’s involvement after more than a month out with a leg issue. He is racing to regain full fitness and could feature in a match that may shape the Serie A title race. According to the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Rabiot has been carrying out extra individual sessions at Milanello, while the rest of the squad have been on national-team duty or given additional rest, in an effort to reach the Inter game in peak condition.

He has not featured for Milan since the 0-0 draw with Juventus on 5 October, then joined the France squad but suffered a leg muscle injury, keeping him out for more than a month.

Rabiot remains one of Massimiliano Allegri’s trusted weapons, helping Milan collect 10 points from four league games this season with him on the pitch, and conceding only one goal in that stretch in testing fixtures against Bologna, Udinese, Napoli and Juventus.

Considering his status inside the squad, it’s not surprising that Allegri is eager to have Rabiot back in time to face Inter in the Derby della Madonnina, a clash that could decide the top of the table in Serie A.

The Italian paper notes Rabiot will be in the squad for Sunday’s derby, though whether he starts remains contingent on the final training assessment.

From Marseille to Milan: The Rabiot Saga

Adrien Rabiot’s anger has been palpable, as the France star and Milan midfielder felt let down by his departure from Olympique Marseille during the summer transfer window of 2025-26. He broke his silence in an interview with RTL, calling the Marseille decision to sell him a kind of betrayal and saying he did not fully understand the club’s rationale.

The crisis intensified after Marseille’s 1-0 loss to Rennes in the opening Ligue 1 match week, with reports claiming Marseille had put Rabiot up for sale following a quarrel with teammate Jonathan Ro, who moved to Bologna.

In interviews with RTL and M6, Rabiot said, “I cannot grasp or accept what happened; it’s a kind of betrayal.” He added that what happened has happened, and the important thing is that his teammates know the truth and that the fans continue to support him.

He has also received many messages from Marseille supporters on social media, which led him to publish the message publicly. “What matters is that people know the truth and that the fans keep supporting me,” he said.

Rabiot emphasized that he has always been focused and disciplined and that he does not want to spark controversy or be misjudged. “What happened happened, and I move forward with a positive mindset.”

He concluded that moving on is part of football and life, and he has handled the situation with composure.

The Return to Calcio

Adrien Rabiot re-enters the Italian scene after a five-season spell with Juventus (2019-2024). He appeared for Milan in five matches this season, four in Serie A and one in the Coppa Italia, including an assist in a 3-0 win over Udinese on 20 September.

The 30-year-old began at the academies of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, turning out for PSG in 227 games with 24 goals and 14 assists, then moving to Juventus where he tallied 22 goals and 16 assists in 212 appearances. He also spent time on loan at Toulouse, scoring once in 13 appearances.

Having left Marseille after one season during which he scored 10 goals with 6 assists in 32 appearances and helped them qualify for the Champions League, Rabiot has won multiple titles: five Ligue 1 titles with PSG, four French Cups, five French League Cups and four French Super Cups. With Juventus, he won the Serie A title in 2020, the Coppa Italia twice (2021, 2024) and the Super Cup in 2020.

With the France national team, Rabiot lifted the UEFA Nations League in 2021 and earned silver in 2025 and silver in the most recent World Cup in 2022.

Punchlines

Punchline 1: If Adrien Rabiot can sprint back into form this quickly, maybe my gym membership should start paying him rent. Punchline 2: If the derby ends in a draw, at least the commentators will have something to translate with dramatic flair – because this script needs subtitles.