The mother and agent of Adrien Rabiot insists he's happy with Juventus.

The France midfielder has been in and out of Juve's first team this season.

But Mum Veronique told Ouest France: "I don't know where the negative image that the media has of us comes from. I think it is linked to the fact that we don't talk enough with journalists. So they break us. But my skin is tough. I have nothing to prove, we have nothing to prove.

"Adrien plays football, it's his passion and off the pitch he would like to lead a discreet life. He doesn't want to justify himself. They never have never forgiven him. And this from the age of 17. Everyone makes mistakes all their lives.

"We don't realise that footballers are teenagers when they start, that they have to grow up as men. They are not robots. In Italy the press says that it hurts? He doesn't care and plays all the games.

"I would like the general public to know which is the path of the players to reach the highest levels. All that is said is: 'They are overpaid, etc ...' But people don't know how much this requires sacrifices from them, a mentality of steel."