Ivan Rakitic has called on the Barcelona players to “pull together” after star man Lionel Messi fractured his arm in Saturday’s 4-2 win against Sevilla.
Messi, 31, collided heavily with fellow Argentine Franco Vasquez and was taken off in discomfort during the 26th minute. An official club statement after the game ruled him out for three weeks – a spell that includes next Sunday’s El Clasico against Real Madrid.
“We’re not happy, but that’s football,” Rakitic told Movistar. “He had the bad luck to hurt himself trying to support his fall and we saw quickly it didn’t look good.
“Now we have to pull together, show that without Leo the team can move forward and wish him a quick recovery.”
Messi is expected to miss six games in total.