Despite the initial alarm raised by coach Didier Deschamps over a knee knock picked up on international duty, Adrien Rabiot’s condition is no longer a concern for AC Milan, who welcomed the reassuring updates coming out of the French camp.
Although the midfielder carried out individual training as a precaution after his excellent performance against Brazil, his return to Milanello confirms the absolute importance of a player whom Massimiliano Allegri considers even more indispensable than Luka Modrić. That was shown by the clear difference in the team’s average points with and without him. Rabiot is enjoying an outstanding season, also praised by French media for his ability to dominate both phases of play, qualities that have led him to feature for almost every minute of Milan’s campaign, as relayed via La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Rabiot and Milan: a decisive bond at the heart of Allegri’s system:
His move to AC Milan, born out of a series of particular circumstances such as his split with Olympique de Marseille and Milan’s early struggles in the league, has proved to be the turning point for Allegri’s tactical balance. Having already worked with him at Juventus, the coach has once again brought out the best in him, turning him into the irreplaceable pillar of a midfield that now boasts extremely high performance ratings.
Milan resume training today at Milanello ahead of the Easter Monday showdown against SSC Napoli, following the break granted by Allegri, while the international players are expected to return in stages between today and Friday. Despite the general rest period, some players have continued to work hard: Matteo Gabbia is progressing well in his recovery after surgery for a groin hernia, although his inclusion for the match at the Maradona stadium remains unlikely. Meanwhile, forwards Santiago Giménez and Niclas Füllkrug are working to regain full fitness, with the former returning from a long layoff and the latter still dealing with the after-effects of a toe fracture. The main focus, however, is on Rafael Leão, who has returned from Portugal where he underwent specific treatment for a groin issue. The medical staff will carefully assess his condition, following a strictly cautious approach, and will only include him in the squad if he is completely pain-free.
The weekly schedule includes afternoon training sessions, with the only exception being Saturday morning’s final session before departure for Naples.
