Football NewsAccording to Ivan Rakitic, he has “a special affection” for Sevilla
Post image

The 32-year-old midfielder spent three and a half years in Seville before in June 2014 his €18 million (£15 million) transferred to Camp Nou.

Rakitic has “a special affection” for Sevilla

According to Ivan Rakitic, he has “a special affection” for Sevilla. As he hinted could return to Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan amid uncertainty about his future at Barcelona. The 32-year-old midfielder spent three and a half years in Seville before in June 2014 his €18 million (£15 million) transferred to Camp Nou. His contract with Barcelona expires at the end of the 2020-21 season, while Manchester United, Juventus, Inter and Paris Saint-Germain all connected with the Croatian international. Rakitic made just 10 La Liga starts for the Blaugrana this season, and, in an interview with journalists, he suggested that he would be open to re-participating in Seville. “I always said that it would be a big dream to put on this shirt again,” Rakitic said. “Everyone knows that, but it’s not my own decision whether I want it or not. There are other factors involved.”

In Sevilla, I have ‘family’

In January 2011, Rakitić joined Sevilla in a €2.5 million transfer from Schalke 04, a move organized by Sevilla’s sports director Monchi. Stressing the strength of his connection with the club, where he won the Europa League in 2013-14, Rakitić said that he still has a family in Seville and joked that he did not receive a call from Monchi when he turned 32 on March 10th. “Monchi and everyone in Seville has my phone number. They haven’t called me yet, and it was my birthday recently,” Rakitic said. “I have a special feeling for Sevilla, and for the city – I have a family there.” Although he admits that he wants to return to Sevilla, Rakitic is tired of the constant transfer speculations that surround any player from either the first team or are nearing the end of their contract.

Ivan said that he will determine his future

“I am not a sack of potatoes,” Ivan said. “I will determine my future.” Like every other footballer in the major leagues of Europe, Rakitic is currently on lockdown with a sport transferred due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since the sides of La Liga have not yet returned to regular training, Rakitic lost the clubs it will take some time to return to speed, once they are cleared to return to action. “It will be strange to see each other again on the training ground and play again. Let’s hope that we are in the best condition,” Rakitic said. “We will lose adrenaline. It will not be like in the summer when you have the whole season ahead. Almost it’s impossible to return 100 percent in a month, but there will be no shortage of desire.”