"I would have liked someone to say Rakitic was staying"

Ivan Rakitic has been on the way out from Barcelona since 2019. The Croatian has said on more than one occasion that he wants to continue and he sent a message to the club. 

"When we sign a contract, the idea is to fulfil it. I also want to play, but I'm calm. I'd have liked someone from the club on the odd occasion to come out and say Rakitic was staying to put the rumours to bed," the former Sevilla man said.

Rakitic said that Bartomeu has still "not said anything" yet. "Maybe he is listening to us and on Tuesday he will call me," the midfielder joked on radio programme 'El Partidazo de COPE'.

"It would be nice to be in contact. I had contact with Abidal, but it was more about returning to work. It's always better to speak to me. I'm happy to return and wear the Barca shirt again," he continued.

Rakitic had not finished there: "I've been in the same situation for two or three years. Nothing changes for me. I'm really looking forward to preparing ouselves for the return to action. There are not many games left and so I want to be at my best. The rest will be seen. I don't have information from the club or from the gaffer to see things in a different way," Rakitic said.

"What I want to think of right now uis Barca. Those who know me well now the links I have with Spain. We are going to live in Sevilla again sooner rather than later, almost certainly. But we are good here," he continued.

The Croatian opened the doors to Lautaro. "I want to have the best players in my team and Lautaro is top drawer. We've seen that every time we've played against Inter. If he comes, brilliant, if not, but I don't have any say in that," the 32 year-old concluded.