News Focus
- Jonathan Rowe says Adrien Rabiot threw the first punch during their Marseille altercation last year
- The fight led to both players leaving the French club in the summer transfer window
- Rowe claims Roberto De Zerbi and Mehdi Benatia only witnessed his retaliation, not the initial blow
- The 23-year-old has found success at Bologna with 13 goal involvements in 43 appearances
- He contrasts De Zerbi’s possession-based training with Vincenzo Italiano’s direct counter-attacking style
Jonathan Rowe has revealed new details about the dressing-room fight that forced him out of Marseille. The Bologna winger claims Adrien Rabiot struck the first blow, but club officials only saw Rowe’s response.
The England under-21 international joined the Italian side last summer following the clash with Rabiot. Security staff had to separate the players during the incident at the French club.
Speaking to The Athletic, Rowe explained that manager Roberto De Zerbi and sporting director Mehdi Benatia missed Rabiot’s opening punch. They witnessed only Rowe hitting back.
“It got heated,” Rowe recalled. “The thing is, they did not see the first punch he threw right at the start. They only saw me come back and hit him.”
The 23-year-old accepts that tempers flare in professional football. He noted that arguments occur more frequently in changing rooms than supporters realise.
Despite the difficult end to his time in France, Rowe praised De Zerbi’s coaching methods. He learned to remain focused and think three steps ahead, comparing it to driving a car.
Training under the Italian focused heavily on possession. Rowe sometimes waited for long periods while defenders and midfielders practiced build-up play. However, this taught him to stay alert and make decisive actions when he finally received the ball.
At Bologna, manager Vincenzo Italiano employs a different approach. Rowe thrives under the high pressing and quick counter-attacking system. This direct style suits his game better than De Zerbi’s patient build-up.
The transition required adjustment. Initially, Rowe attempted short passes while his teammates played long balls. Over time, he has adapted to their strengths and built better connections with his new colleagues.
Rowe has contributed 13 goals or assists in 43 matches this season. He feels the Bologna system makes him “unstoppable” when the entire team operates on the same wavelength.