United chief John Murtough spotted leaving Turin after holding talks with Adrien Rabiot’s mother

Manchester United football director John Murtough has held talks with Adrien Rabiot’s mother and agent Veronique as the club look to finalise a deal for the Juventus midfielder.

Murtough was seen leaving Turin on Friday afternoon following a scheduled meeting with Veronique Rabiot.

United are hoping to secure the services of Frenchman Rabiot, 27, for around £15million, although the potential move has not been popular among fans of the club on social media.

Manchester United’s football director John Murtough was filmed leaving Turin on Friday after talks with Adrien Rabiot’s mother and agent Veronique

United are hoping to secure a deal for the Juventus midfielder having agreed a £15m fee

Reports earlier this week claimed that salary demands from the player and his agent could see the transfer collapse.

Juventus are happy to let Rabiot leave but negotiations over personal terms have already been a major stumbling block.

It is thought that Veronique Rabiot is asking for a salary higher than the £6million-a-year that her son is currently earning in Turin, a wage United may be unwilling to pay.

News of United’s issues in the talks, which could lead to club abandoning the move, was greeted with jubilation by some fans on social media.

@MUFCTidy on twitter wrote: ‘Party time if true.’

Rabiot’s mother and agent Veronique is asking for a salary of more than £6m-a-year for her son

Veronique and United’s football director Murtough held talks over the move in Turin on Friday

Another user added: ‘Good he is another wrong type of player we are trying to buy & his stats are terrible.’

A third fan said,’YES!!! please collapse!! #NoToRabiot’, while one simply said: ‘Thank f***.

United have admitted the negative reaction from fans to the potential signing of controversial Austrian forward Marko Arnautovic played a role in their decision not to pursue a deal.

United fans on social media reacted with jubilation at news that the move for Rabiot may collapse

United legend Lou Macari has also appeared to criticise the move for Rabiot, telling the club’s own in-house channel that he had ‘never heard’ of the Frenchman, adding that he had a ‘bad feeling’ about the player.

The 73-year-old went off script to question the pursuit of Rabiot on MUTV – where it’s almost unheard of for guests to speak negatively about what is happening at Old Trafford. 

‘I’d never really heard of him,’ the former Scotland international said. ‘Clubs spend millions of pounds scouting players across Europe, but nobody else has made a move for this fella. Why do you think this is? I have got a bad feeling about the guy.’ 

Manchester United legend Lou Macari revealed he has ‘never heard of’ Rabiot on MUTV 

Rabiot, a French international, has found himself frozen out at Juventus, and with only one year left on his deal at the Turin club, a move to Old Trafford represents an opportunity for Massimiliano Allegri’s side to acquire a fee for the player before his contract expires. 

According to ESPN, Rabiot has appreciated telephone calls from Erik ten Hag, who has spoken highly of him.

Ten Hag has pushed to sign Rabiot after United lost to Brighton in the first game of the Premier League season. 

Fans and pundits were heavily critical of United’s midfield duo of Scott McTominay and Fred following the 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford, although the club insists they have long been pursuing Rabiot and their wish to seal the deal is not a reaction to the disastrous start to the new campaign. 

Rabiot could become the fourth new arrival under new manager Ten Hag. United have signed left-back Tyrell Malacia, defender Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen so far in what has been a frustrating summer window for the Dutchman and Old Trafford chiefs.