'When you want to drown your dog, you say it has rabies' - Adrien Rabiot's lawyer accuses Marseille of telling 'completely false' story over Jonathan Rowe feud to justify midfielder's exit

Marseille announced this week that Rabiot has no future at the club, only a year after his arrival. The midfielder’s dismissal followed a heated altercation with Jonathan Rowe in the locker room after a 1-0 loss to Rennes in their Ligue 1 opener. Both players were banished from training by coach Roberto De Zerbi, and with Rowe already expected to leave amid interest from Sunderland and Bologna, Rabiot now finds himself pushed out as well.

Speaking on RMC Sport, Rabiot’s lawyer Romuald Palao strongly rejected the club’s explanation. He accused Marseille of telling a "completely false" story to justify moving the midfielder from the club. Palao stressed that the Rabiot family has maintained cordial relations with the club’s management and insisted the altercation with Rowe had been blown out of proportion.

Rabiot’s lawyer made it clear that Marseille’s explanation did not convince him or the player’s camp.

"But yes, if you like, what the club has communicated, we have doubts. Yes, of course we have doubts," he said.

"We can't move on from... what happened in the locker room, that's what happened in the locker room. But when the club says that the player's behaviour has changed since the Netherlands, that's false. It's completely false! When you want to drown your dog, you say it has rabies.

"So indeed, there is a story that is a bit contrived. And then they use Friday's episode to oust Adrien. Why? I don't know. You have to ask them, you have to ask them the question."

Marseille are set to host newly promoted Paris FC on August 23, still searching for their first win of the new Ligue 1 season. Meanwhile, Rabiot could soon be on the move, with several clubs keeping close tabs on the midfielder’s situation.