PSG ordered to let Rabiot train with 1st team

Paris - Paris Saint-Germain outcast Adrien Rabiot has won a judgement ordering the club to include him in first-team training, AFP learned on Tuesday evening.

In response to a complaint by Rabiot, the French league's legal committee ruled that forcing the contract rebel to train with the reserves, who play in the French fourth division, goes against the "professional footballer's charter".

The 23-year-old French international midfielder has not played for PSG since early December after failing to agree a new contract.

His existing deal expires at the end of the season and Rabiot has been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona, although the player is reportedly happy to stay at PSG for the remainder of the campaign before moving to La Liga as a free agent.

The footballer's charter allows for players to be ordered to train apart only  "on a temporary basis" and for "exclusively sporting reasons".

If PSG do not relent, the committee could hand out punishments.

"I respect the club's decision and I can understand it," said coach Thomas Tuchel when asked about Rabiot's absence last week.