5 Criminally underused footballers in Europe this season

#2. Adrien Rabiot (Paris Saint-Germain)

Rabiot hasn't made a first-team appearance since December

The Frenchman is one of the hottest midfield prospects in world football. Yet, a combination of deadlocked negotiations and the board’s reluctance to play him has left him without a first-team game since the 11th of December.

Blessed with the ability to glide past players and get through his fair share of defensive work, Rabiot is as complete a midfielder as any on the planet. Additionally, his trait of standing up when the chips are down makes him an invaluable commodity to possess.

Over the past couple of seasons, the Frenchman has been a vital cog in the Parisian wheel, having made more than 25 appearances in the league each time. But, this term, he has made a grand total of 14 league appearances, with none coming in 2019.

At the moment, he is training with the reserves and the PSG hierarchy has been completely at fault for stunting a promising player’s progress.

With such a lot of drama having unfolded at the Parc des Princes, Rabiot might just have donned the PSG jersey for the last time already. The Frenchman is certainly not agreeing a new contract and even if he intended to, the club’s actions have ensured he doesn’t sign on the dotted line.

On paper, Rabiot’s name should be at the forefront of any discussion featuring exciting midfielders. Yet, his club has contrived to take him away from the limelight altogether.

And for those wondering whether football is so cruel, that is how the footballing cookie crumbles at times.