Adrien Rabiot’s (29) impending arrival at Olympique de Marseille is bad news for all of OM’s rivals, but the timing could hardly have been worse for Olympique Lyonnais.

Rabiot has been a free agent since July after he refused to extend his deal with Juventus. However, whilst he did not manage to find a new club before the closure of the transfer window, or more crucially, before the date for submission of squad lists for the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Europa Conference League, he has now found a new project.

‘I would have preferred if he had come into Ligue 1 one week later’ – Sage on Rabiot

The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, who came through Les Parisiens’ academy, is set to join arch-rivals, reportedly on a two-year deal. He is set to arrive in Marseille on Monday evening, ahead of his medical on Tuesday. It is a big coup for OM and it comes just in time for the Choc des Olympiques, against Lyon, on Sunday.

In the wake of OL’s draw against RC Lens on Sunday evening, upon hearing the news, Pierre Sage gave his immediate reaction. “I would have preferred if he had come into Ligue 1 one week later,” the Lyon manager reacted during an interview with DAZN.