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Tag: Ivan Rakitic

  • La Liga: Ivan Rakitic joins Sevilla

    La Liga: Ivan Rakitic joins Sevilla

    Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic has rejoined Europa League holders Sevilla on a four-year deal from Barcelona for an undisclosed fee, the Liga team said on Tuesday.

    His departure ends a trophy-laden six-year spell at Camp Nou during which Rakitic won four league titles, four Copa del Rey trophies plus the Champions League and Club World Cup.

    Spanish media reports had said the 32-year-old, who had one year left on his contract, was not part of new FC Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman’s plans for next season.

    “Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona have reached an agreement for the transfer of midfielder Ivan Rakitic, who will return to the club for a second spell.

    “His first spell at the club was between January 2011 and June 2014,” Sevilla said in a statement.
    Rakitic captained Sevilla to Europa League success in 2014 before leaving to join Barca.

  • Arteta calls Rakitic directly to detail Arsenal plans

    Arteta calls Rakitic directly to detail Arsenal plans

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has made a move for Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

    The Croatia international, 32, has been weighing up his options at the Nou Camp, though is refusing to simply be offloaded by the Catalans. Rakitic has refused to be part of swap proposals involving PSG and Inter Milan over the last six months.

    However, he could yet choose to leave this summer and while he favours a return to Sevilla, contact with Arteta has turned his head.

    Mundo Deportivo says Arteta has called Rakitic directly to declare his interest and set out his plans for him within Arsenal’s system.

    The Basque rates Rakitic highly and believes his experience in the middle of midfield is just what his FA Cup winners require next season.

    For their part, Barca won’t stand in Rakitic’s way should he choose to leave.

  • Rakitic pushes Barcelona to 1-0 win over Athletico Bilbao

    Rakitic pushes Barcelona to 1-0 win over Athletico Bilbao

    FC Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic came off the bench to give his side a 1-0 win at home to Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday.

    His effort averted a second consecutive draw which would have further dented the champions’ La Liga title defence.

    Barca had slipped off the top of the table after Friday’s 0-0 draw at Sevilla.

    They put in another sluggish display at an empty Camp Nou.

    The star-studded front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann failed to sparkle.

    They finally found a way through in the 71st minute when Messi slipped the ball into the path of Rakitic, who had only been on the pitch for six minutes.

    He kept his nerve to beat Athletic Bilbao’s in-form goalkeeper Unai Simon.

    The win took Barca to the top of the standings on 68 points.

    Real Madrid, on 65 points, will reclaim their lead due to their superior head-to-head record if they beat Real Mallorca at home on Wednesday.

  • Transfer: Rakitic shot at Barca president over future

    Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has fired a barb at president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

    The Croatia veteran has made it clear he wants to stay at the Nou Camp next season – and is unhappy about press speculation that he’s offered to clubs across Europe.

    Rakitic told Cadena COPE: “When we sign a contract, it’s with the idea of completing it.

    “Also with the idea that I want to play, but I am calm. I wish that at one point someone from the club came out to say that Rakitic was staying to finish the rumours.

    “Bartomeu didn’t say anything to me. Maybe today he is listening to us and tomorrow he will call me.”

  • Rakitic issues Barca warning over PSG move

    Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic admits he’d be upset if it was confirmed he’d been offered to PSG last year.

    It’s been suggested Rakitic was among the Barca players included in their failed offer for Neymar last summer.

    Asked if he knew he was part of the proposal, Rakitic told Mundo Deportivo: “What if I pay for not being included in a transfer planned by the club last summer?

    “Maybe, maybe not, but I always wanted to stay. If they wanted me to go to another team, no matter where, I would have liked to be told, just like you and I are saying things right now.

    “I have proven over the past five years that you can always count on me. I have done a lot of service for my teammates and the coach and I have shown that you can always count on me, so if it was because of that, it would hurt even more.

  • Barca’s Ivan Rakitic unmoved by transfer rumours

    Barcelona midfielder, Ivan Rakitic, accepts that his days at the Nou Camp may be numbered, but says he is concerned with concentrating on preparation for next season with the Spanish champions.
    He stated this at a news conference in Tokyo on Monday following the arrival of Frenkie de Jong from Ajax and 31-year-old Sergio Busquets signing a new five-year deal last year with the club.
    Barcelona’s midfield is looking a little crowded and the Croat could be the man to be shipped out in the summer.
    Speaking ahead of his side’s pre-season match against Chelsea in Japan on Tuesday, Rakitic admitted that it was awkward talking about his future, but that he was used to the rumours.
    “Does it bother me? No, it doesn’t. I have to understand soccer in general works like that,” the midfielder when asked about any impending move.
    “In some way it also fills me with pride because if other teams ask about me it is because I am doing things really well.”
    Rakitic said he was simply trying to enjoy his soccer at Barca as they seek to put disappointments of recent seasons behind them.
    “I think the club has other things to do right now other than speak about my issues,” the 31-year-old said.
    Coach Enesto Valverde has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to attacking midfielders at his disposal after the arrival of Antoine Griezmann from La Liga rivals, Atletico Madrid, this month.
    Griezmann joins a loaded attacking group that also includes Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Phillipe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele.
    French international Griezmann, who is likely to play his first game in a Barcelona shirt on Tuesday, accepts that Barca play a different brand of football to Atletico, but that he was confident he could adjust.
    “They are two different ways of attacking. At Atletico, it’s very quick and the other way is with lots of patience. I will adapt like I did at Atletico.
    “It’s a style I like. I know I can contribute in many ways and, as you know, it’s not a problem for me to run in front or in the back,” Griezmann said.