Any hopes Arsenal had of signing Adrien Rabiot this winter have been dashed by Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who has insisted the midfielder won’t leave the French capital.

Frustrated to be behind Thiago Motta and Marco Verratti in the pecking order, Rabiot recently requested a loan move in January in order to play more regularly. The 20-year-old has featured in 16 games this season, starting nine Ligue 1 matches and two Champions League games, but wants to play more regularly.

His requested saw him booed by fans during a recent game against Shakhtar Donetsk, and Al-Khelaifi has since confirmed the player won’t be allowed to leave.

“I was very disappointed -I said it to his face. His statements are unacceptable,” the PSG president told Le Figaro.

“I didn’t appreciate at all that he declared that a loan would be a Christmas present. It’s a complete lack of respect towards his first club who did so much for him.

“He’s 20 years old, plays regularly in a big team. He’s come through the youth academy – the club has given him a lot. I’ll never accept that he considers himself more important than the club.”

Each player has to consider his own future, and if Rabiot was only thinking of his development these comments seem harsh. Maybe a door will open at PSG in the near future, but sitting on the bench won’t do anyone any good. He wasn’t asking to be sold, just loaned out.

Regardless, he clearly won’t be playing for Arsenal this season. The Gunners reportedly targeted him in the summer and could have been interest in a move now, with Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla both out for a number of months.

Still, there are plenty more midfielders in the world. Back to the drawing board.