'Completely crazy!' - Adrien Rabiot speaks blasts 'truly absurd' AC Milan clash against Como taking place in Australia

The French international Rabiot has openly criticised Serie A’s unprecedented plan to hold AC Milan’s fixture against Como in Perth, Australia. The star midfielder, who joined Milan this summer, called the proposal “completely crazy” and expressing disbelief that two Italian teams will play a domestic league game nearly 14,000 kilometres away from home. UEFA “reluctantly” granted approval to both Serie A and La Liga to stage league matches abroad, despite labelling the move “regrettable.” The governing body said the decision was made “on an exceptional basis amid regulatory gaps at global level” and “should not set a precedent.”

Speaking to Le Figaro, Rabiot said he was “surprised” to learn of Milan’s February clash against Como taking place in Australia, questioning the logic behind the move. 

“I was surprised when I learned that AC Milan and I will be playing a Serie A match against Como… in Australia! It’s completely crazy,” he said. “These are financial agreements to give visibility to the league, things that are beyond us. There’s a lot of talk about schedules and player health, but this all seems truly absurd. It’s crazy to travel so many miles for a match between two Italian teams in Australia. We have to adapt, as always.”

UEFA has approved the Italian and Spanish domestic leagues’ requests to stage matches abroad but made it clear that it does not endorse the concept. President Aleksander Ceferin described the move as “regrettable” and warned that “league matches should be played on home soil.” The decision was granted due to what UEFA called “regulatory gaps at global level,” paving the way for FIFA to issue final authorisation.
If confirmed, Milan’s match with Como in Perth would mark the first time a regular-season European league fixture is played outside the continent. Similarly, Spain’s La Liga hopes to stage Villarreal’s game against Barcelona in Miami this December

The landmark move to take Serie A abroad now awaits FIFA’s final clearance, which could set a new precedent for domestic leagues across Europe. While Serie A argues that hosting games overseas will “introduce new audiences to the excellence of Italian football,” fan groups in Italy have criticised the decision as "spineless nonsense." UEFA, meanwhile, continues to maintain that its approval was purely procedural. If the Perth fixture goes ahead in February, it will be closely watched as a test case for future global expansions. 

Rabiot also discussed his departure from Marseille, admitting that his exit still feels like a betrayal. 

“I wanted to focus solely on football, on my first weeks at this new club and in this new life; it was important. Generally, I’m not one to express myself much off the pitch, but at that moment it was really time to focus, to restart with my mind completely on football,” he said.
The midfielder, who was sold after a locker-room altercation with former teammate Jonathan Rowe, is now enjoying a fresh chapter at AC Milan. “It’s incredible to have experienced all this,” Rabiot added. “I hope to achieve great things at Milan, to win titles, at a historic and legendary club.”

While, Milan’s domestic calendar remains packed, with some key Serie A and Champions League fixtures before the proposed Australian trip, and Rabiot’s remarks have already reignited the debate on player welfare and football’s global commercialisation.