Adrien Rabiot 'pleasantly surprised' by AC Milan's quality after joining 'top-notch' midfield alongside Luka Modric

Rabiot has revealed he is "pleasantly surprised" by how quickly a quality AC Milan side is being built, crediting coach Massimiliano Allegri for his seamless integration into the team. After losing their first Serie A game of the season to Como, the Rossoneri have won four games in a row and sit three points behind league leaders Napoli in what has been a bright start to the campaign.

The positive results come after a midfield rebuild following Allegri's summer arrival. They signed Real Madrid legend Luka Modric, promising star Ardon Jashari and 24-year-old Samuele Ricci from Torino before the arrival of Rabiot, and the Frenchman was quizzed on whether or not they have the strongest midfield in the league.

He told reporters: "It's definitely a top-notch team. Then there are teams like Inter, Juventus, and Napoli who have quality, but we'll focus on ourselves without looking at the other teams. We'll see where we are later, but for now, I'm happy with what I'm seeing."

Rabiot's move to Milan came after he was frozen out at Marseille following a dressing room fight with Jonathan Rowe, who was also sold in the aftermath, but the Frenchman's start in Italy has been overwhelmingly positive. He highlighted his reunion with former Juventus boss Allegri as a key factor in the team's rapid progress. 

"I am honestly surprised in a positive way at how quickly that has happened, as the team changed quite a lot, but is doing very well," Rabiot said. "He is a strong coach and there are quality players here... This is what the coach excels at, creating a unit and having everyone feel involved. I hope it is the start of something big."

The 30-year-old has been thrust straight into the action, starting both of Milan's Serie A matches since his arrival, where he has registered one assist, as well as the 3-0 win against Lecce in the Coppa Italia. 

"I am happy because everyone gave me such a good welcome, from my teammates to the staff and the fans," Rabiot stated. "I know the coach and his staff well, I know their mentality, and I think the players are starting to learn it, which we can see on the field."

Milan's strong start to the season faces a major test on Sunday against reigning Serie A champions Napoli, a match Rabiot views as a key benchmark. "I wouldn’t say this is a Scudetto test, as there is such a long way to go this season, but we can test ourselves and see how far we’ve come," he commented. 

Following that fixture, Rabiot will face his former club of five years, Juventus. "Obviously, the game with Juventus is not like the others, but I am a Milan player and want to win every match," he said. "I have fond memories of my five years there."