Milan vs. Como played in Australia, De Siervo hits back at Rabiot: ‘Respect the money’ you earn

“Rabiot forges, like all footballers who earn millions of euros, that they are paid to perform a job, that is to play football,” De Siervo told reporters after a Lega Serie A meeting on Wednesday, via La Repubblica.

“He should have more respect for the money he earns and be more accommodating towards his employer, Milan, who agreed and pushed for this match to be played abroad.”

De Siervo insisted that Lega Serie A takes care of players’ health, despite recent criticism.

“It’s a key element; we are fighting for this to make sense,” he added.

“We are talking about something complicated, but not impossible. We are trying to do it in a spirit of harmony, especially if it’s seen as an exceptional event.

De Siervo: ‘It’s a sacrifice that can be made’

“The organisational challenge is complex, the flight hours are many, but they’ll be travelling business class to the other side of he world, something teams do regularly. Top-level players, whose salaries reflect the effort they put in, should understand better that anyone that this is a sacrifice that can be made.”

Rabiot returned to Serie A in the summer transfer window, reuniting with his former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri at Milan.

The France international has scored 18 goals in 161 appearances in Italy’s top-flight, and his contract at San Siro expires in June 2028.