Manchester United have reportedly withdrawn their interest in Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic, with Paul Pogba set to stay put at Old Trafford.
According to a report by London Evening Standard, Manchester United have decided to pull the plug on their pursuit of Ivan Rakitic. The Premier League heavyweights decided to end their interest in the Barcelona midfielder as Paul Pogba is content and settled at Old Trafford.
Ivan Rakitic has become one of the most revered superstars of the game since sealing a move to Barcelona from Sevilla in the summer of 2014. Nearly five years have passed since the Croat made his way to Camp Nou, and it is safe to say that he has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world during this time.
One of the fittest players at Barcelona, Rakitic has amassed over 250 appearances with the club, winning every trophy on offer. But, ever since the deal to sign Frenkie de Jong was announced, the 31-year-old seems to be facing an uncertain future at Camp Nou, with Manchester United reportedly among the clubs said to be interested in signing him.
The report, however, asserts that with Paul Pogba happy and content at Old Trafford, United have decided to withdraw their interest in the Barcelona midfielder. They also add that while the Red Devils are not going to offer him a new contract just yet, the general feeling around the club is that Pogba has no intention to leave, something that has been confirmed by widespread reports.
Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed as the caretaker manager back in December, both Pogba and the club have seen a turnaround in fortunes. On a personal front, a return of nine goals and seven assists in 16 appearances makes for an impressive reading, and it is no wonder that the midfielder is feeling settled at the club.
If Pogba was to depart from Old Trafford, on the other hand, a player like Rakitic could have come of use for the short-term, considering he could have filled the creative boots that the Frenchman wears. But, with the World Cup winner set to stay put at the club, it is hard to see how the Barcelona star would fit in the Manchester United first-team setup.
For now, it looks like the interest in Ivan Rakitic has well and truly ended, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is set to be announced as the next full-time manager of the club, seeing Paul Pogba as central to his plans. The Croat’s future at Barcelona, however, remains up in the air, and it remains to be seen if he will still be at Camp Nou next season.
