Mocked in Italy for his choice, which deprives him of the Champions League, Adrien Rabiot is not the only great international player who will not participate in the competition which begins today.
Incredible coincidence: it is Juventus who, at 6:45 p.m., will officially kick off the new Champions League formula. A formula that is similar to the famous European “Superleague”: a giant championship with all the best clubs in Europe!
Still vice-captain of the Italian club 5 months ago, international 48 times, finalist of the 2022 World Cup and semi-finalist of the last Euro, Adrien Rabiot will not be part of it. The Italian press took a mischievous pleasure in pointing this out. Like Tuttosport, the daily newspaper that follows the Turin club. “Tonight the Old Lady returns to the Champions League, he will hear the anthem on his television.” If the player who has just signed with OM will be one of the big absentees from the cast of the brand new Champions League, he is not the only one.
Memphis Depay (30 years old, Corinthians, Brazil)
Free from any contract with Atletico Madrid, after an amicable termination last June, the Dutch international with 38 C1 matches has also made a surprising choice. The 30-year-old player has joined the Brazilian club Corinthians.
Jadon Sancho (24, Chelsea, England)
A finalist in the last edition with Borussia Dortmund, the English international joined Chelsea (on loan from Manchester United, to whom he belongs) during the summer. A somewhat surprising career choice since the London club must be content with the Europa Conference League.
Mats Hummels (35 years old, AS Roma, Italy)
A major contributor to Borussia Dortmund’s excellent run in the Champions League, Mats Hummels will also be watching the C1 from his sofa. Free of any contract, the German international has chosen to sign with Roma, who are playing in the Europa League. The last time in his career that Mats Hummels did not play in the C1 was with Dortmund during the 2015/2016 season. This is also the only time in the last 13 seasons.
Youssoufa Moukoko (19 years old, OGC Nice)
For the first time in his young career, the German winger loaned to Nice by Borussia Dortmund, will not play in the Champions League. A competition that he left his mark on by becoming, at 16 years and 18 days, the youngest player in history to take part in a C1 match. At 19, Youssoufa Moukoko, who will play in the Europa League with Nice this season, already has 12 Champions League matches on his CV.
Nico Williams (22 ans, Athletic Bilbao, Espagne)
The one who was one of the summer superstars with Spain, will have to wait a little longer before discovering the Champions League. Once announced on the side of Barcelona, or PSG, the young Spanish winger has finally decided to stay at least one more season in Bilbao. Result: no C1. On the other hand, the Pamplona native will discover the Europa League.
Toni Kroos (34 years old, retired)
The Champions League will have to get used to living without him. Six times winner of the competition, including the first time in 2013 (with Bayern), before winning 5 big-eared cups with Real in the last 8 seasons, the German has won one Champions League out of three in the last 16 years! There will not be a seventh, for the good and simple reason that he has decided to hang up his boots.
