Ivan Rakitic has rebuffed rumours linking him with a move away from Barcelona, insisting he wants to extend his stay at Camp Nou.
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has shot down rumours linking him with Manchester City and Manchester United, as he insisted that he’s happy where he is at with Barcelona and expressed his desire to stay at Camp Nou beyond the duration of his contract with the Blaugrana.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Rakitic told reporters in the post Barcelona’s 1-0 win at Real Sociedad: “I hope that I can continue here for many years. I want to renew my contract with Barcelona. I am worried because I always want to play but I have absolute confidence in the coach. I need to work but I’m confident.”
Rakitic has been one of the most highly regarded midfielders in the world for some years now, and was making waves in the Sevilla midfield when he secured a dream transfer to Barcelona in July 2014 in an €18 million five-year deal with the Blaugrana.
The move to Camp Nou has been a highly successful one for Rakitic, winning the La Liga (twice), Champions League and Copa Del Rey (twice) and the midfield maestro has appeared 143 times for Barcelona, with 16 goals and 30 assists to his name so far.
This season, though, Rakitic has struggled to get minutes of first team football under his belt. The arrival of Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez to Camp Nou alongside the rapid rise of Rafinha Alcantara have meant that the Croatia international has managed to start just ten games in La Liga this season.
The Croatian hasn’t started a single league game since the disappointing stalemate in the El Clasico early last months, and has only managed to start three subsequent Copa Del Rey games. Even though Rakitic still has two-and-a-half years remaining in his current contract, speculations have surrounded his Barcelona future constantly.
The 28-year-old has been linked to the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City with both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola identifying Rakitic as a player who would fit in their plans for their respective clubs.
So, while there is no denying the fact that Rakitic would easily fit seamlessly into both the lineups, the midfielder himself is ready to fight through the struggles of the current campaign to reclaim his place in the Barcelona starting lineup and stay well after his current contract expires.
