On Sunday, March 16, 2025, the highly anticipated clash between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique de Marseille (OM) played out as more than just another football match; it turned out to be the scene of high tension and hostility aimed primarily at Adrien Rabiot. Upon entering the Parc des Princes, where he had once made his mark as a PSG player, Rabiot was met with raucous booing and hostile chants from the home crowd, making clear the animosity directed at him.
Adrien Rabiot, now captain for the first time at OM, had traveled quite the road since his departure from PSG. Following his tenure where he made 227 appearances, scored 24 goals, and won numerous accolades, he left his formative club under contentious circumstances for Juventus, only to now don the colors of their fierce rivals, Marseille. This match marked his official return to the Parc des Princes and it was abundantly clear—respect would not be on the agenda.
From the moment Rabiot stepped foot on the pitch with his teammates, he was targeted by thunderous chants from the PSG ultras. A banner reading, "Loyauté pour les hommes, trahison pour les putes. Telle mère, tel fils!" was unfurled, illustrating the deep-seated emotions held by fans, which also extended obscene insults aimed at his mother, Véronique Rabiot, who also serves as his agent. The message included references to past players who had transferred between the two clubs, explicitly denigrated her, and suggested disloyalty on the part of both mother and son.
Even before the match began, tensions were palpable. The stadium speaker had to call for order after Marseille's goalkeepers faced inappropriate taunts, urging the crowd to cease any insults to avoid repercussions. Yet, the announcement did little to calm the rowdy supporters. Chants of "Rabiot, on t’enc…" echoed through the stands, especially from the Auteuil section, before the match had even kickstarted.
Rabiot, clearly prepared for the overwhelming animosity, kept his cool, focused on the game. Despite the grim display from the home fans, he delivered on the pitch, demonstrating poise by assisting Amine Gouri’s goal, albeit it did little to turn the tide. OM found themselves trailing 3-1 at the final whistle, extending their winless run at the Parc des Princes to over two years.
Accompanying the wave of jeers and insults was the over-arching theme of the fixture: the deep-rooted rivalry not just between the clubs, but also the emotional ties former players endure when crossing adversarial lines. Rabiot, still just 29, entered the match bearing the weight of not only the captaincy of the Marseille side but also the ire of the Parisian supporters who felt particularly betrayed.
The discord concerning Rabiot stretches back several seasons when he departed PSG for Juventus; he has since become one of the many players straddling the line between both clubs. It wasn’t just his exit from PSG but also the impact of joining their fiercest enemies at OM, which particularly stung the supporters, who showed no hesitation to voice their discontent.
With the match’s end, Rabiot managed to exchange brief greetings with former teammates, signaling perhaps his familiarity with this uniquely charged environment. Perhaps the most impactful moment was not his assist but rather the evidence of the impassioned responses from the stands, highlighting the only emotion fans like those from PSG are willing to show—to protect their territory.
For the Parisian fans, this was not just about Rabiot as the enemy player; it was about loyalty, betrayal, and family, with the dual focus on the prodigal son and his figurative mother played out under the flashing lights of one of football’s most iconic arenas. The collective rants protesting Rabiot's presence spoke volumes, manifesting deeply entrenched feelings of disappointment as well as protective instincts over their unit.
Following the match, Rabiot appeared unfazed by the storm brewing around him, perhaps indicative of his years facing scrutiny and the mental fortitude he’s developed over time. Yet, the comedic twist of the ordeal lies within the duality of his acknowledgment of the situation; he is now part of it, for good or for bad. Following the match, he will return to training with Marseille, underlining his commitment to his current club, even as the Parisian fans may continue to taunt him.
With varied emotions and layers to the conflict spanning allegiances, Rabiot’s performance certainly warranted additional focus not purely for his skill on the ball but rather as emblematic of the broader struggles of transition among players within the severe rivalries of modern football.
This edition of the Classique has etched itself not only as another page within Rabiot’s career but also as a lesson for fans, players, and anyone invested within the world of football: Transitions are fierce. Loyalty, it seems, is never to be taken lightly.