"In football, you have to accept things that you don't understand can happen"

If there is anyone in Barcelona who will not forget the 2019-20 season, it is Ivan Rakitic. The Croatian went from playing almost every single match with Valverde to being forgotten about the next season. After his departure and the arrival of Quique Setién, Rakitic regained some protagonism, although never as much as before.

Right as rumours have started swirling about a possible departure to Sevilla FC, the midfielder talked to 'Mundo Deportivo' as confinement measures continue and analyzed his complicated beginning of the season.

"I had a very strange first part of the season, very uncomfortable and surprising for me, but from there I have to learn several things and go improving. Sometimes things happen that you don't understand, but you have to accept them," said the Balkan midfielder.

"The people I've spoken to haven't been able to give me an explanation or anything concrete either. Everybody tells me that in football things happen that you don't understand, that you have to go forward. What hurt me the most wasn't playing or not playing, but the way it happened. You can't be in one place even if you want to if they want another player," Rakitic stressed.

The Barcelona player admitted that he has no record of the team wanting him to leave: "If they wanted me to go to another team, it doesn't matter where, I would have liked them to tell me. You have an idea, but if it doesn't work out, I've proved over the past five years that I can always be counted on. I've certainly done a lot of favours for team-mates and coaches, and I've shown that I can always be counted on, and if that were the reason, it would hurt even more."

Valverde stopped counting on him overnight, although it is also true that Sergio Busquets was given less playing time and had to make way for Frenkie de Jong.

Rakitic analyzed the change of manager experienced by the Barça, stating it's been difficult for everyone involved: "I had a drop mentally, but I wanted to work hard, to give the best out of msyelf, to be near the companions and the technical body. Another coach arrives and comes with new ideas, another way of communicating ... but mine has not changed at all because I always wanted to give the best of me. The transition hasn't been easy, neither for the team nor for the coach, but I think that at this moment we have adapted it very well and we were moving forward and it was a pity that we had to stop".

The Croatian denied that he has started contacting teams, although he did confess his wish of playing again in Sevilla. "I have a special affection for Sevilla, but directly to the city, I have my family there. I have always said that it would be a great dream to wear that shirt again, everybody knows that, but it is not only my decision, if I want it or not, it has more things behind it. Monchi and everybody in Sevilla have my phone, they haven't called me yet".

To conclude, besides thanking the health staff, Rakitic sent a message to the club: "I am not a sack of potatoes to do anything with. If it's here, I'd be delighted, if not, I'll go where I decide, not where anyone else decides. I didn't like the behaviour towards me and I quite clear about that. That is the most important thing."