Adrien Rabiot has said he “understood what Ruben Amorim wants” at AC Milan and brushed aside the “controversy” surrounding his extended summer break, saying: “That’s what it’s always like in Italy.”

Introduced from the bench, he made an instant difference, setting up Alphadjo Cisse for the opening goal within minutes and then scoring Milan’s second himself just 120 seconds later in a 2-1 away win over Torino.

At the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino in Turin on August 23, 2026, Rabiot scored AC Milan’s second goal past Torino FC’s Diego Mascardi during the Serie A fixture.

“I am glad to be back, to have seen what ideas the coach has, and I also spoke to the Boss,” Rabiot told Sky Sport Italia, referring to owner Gerry Cardinale.

There had been speculation that he was unhappy about the sacking of Max Allegri and wanted to reunite with his former Juventus coach at Napoli.

Earlier in the year, Rabiot had featured for AC Milan in the Serie A match against Pisa SC at the Arena Garibaldi in Pisa on February 13, 2026.

Amorim is clearly deploying him differently, in a more advanced trequartista position behind the striker, and in this match he came on in place of Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

“I already had a similar role with Roberto De Zerbi at Olympique Marseille. I like to attack the goal, so I’m happy,” Rabiot said.

Ruben Amorim, the head coach of AC Milan, was on the touchline before the Serie A match between Torino FC and AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on August 23, 2026 in Turin.

The France international had not played a single minute since the World Cup third-place play-off against England, as both he and his Les Bleus teammate Mike Maignan were granted additional time off this summer.

His delayed return to the club led to controversy and frustration among some supporters and sections of the media, but the midfielder made an immediate impression on his first appearance of the season.

“The World Cup was good, we reached the semi-final even if we wanted to win it. I needed that time off to rest both physically and mentally, because it was a tough season, especially the way it ended at Milan.

“I returned with great hunger, we asked the coach for a couple more days and he told us to take four, so I don’t understand why it was controversial. Then again, that’s always what it is like in Italy.

“I’m pleased to be back on the field after just one week of training, but I understood what the coach wants, what he expects from me, and I’m glad to have contributed a goal and assist.”

Rabiot later celebrated his second goal for AC Milan during the Serie A match against Torino FC at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on August 23, 2026.

Asked how he is adjusting to the shift in philosophy from Allegri to Amorim at Milan, Rabiot explained:

“I am closer to the goal when we recover the ball, so this season we’ll try to have more possession than the opponents, and then it ought to be easier to create chances, score goals and provide assists,” he concluded.