Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic appears to have secured a dream move to Barcelona as he prepares to lead his country into today’s World Cup opener against hosts Brazil.
The midfield partnership between Sevilla skipper Rakitic, 26, and Real Madrid ace Luka Modric is crucial to the Croats’ hopes of upsetting the odds in Sao Paulo tonight, but it seems they will be the best of enemies in domestic competition next season.
Although neither club have made any comment, Barca and Sevilla are believed to have agreed a fee in the region of €15 to €20 million (Dh74m–Dh99m) for Rakitic, who has one year to run on his current deal with the Andalusian outfit.
And Modric effectively confirmed that the deal is set to go ahead by expressing his delight for his international team-mate while admitting he wanted Rakitic to join him at Madrid, who had also shown an interest in securing his services.
“Obviously if it was down to me, I would have liked to sign him for Madrid,” he said. “But in the end it wasn’t to be and he has gone to Barca.”
Rakitic was the star performer in Sevilla’s excellent season, scoring 12 goals and providing 11 assists as his team finished fifth in La Liga and won the Europa League with a penalty shoot-out final victory over Benfica.
Sevilla attempted to keep him at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan with a lucrative new contract offer, but the lure of Barca was impossible to resist and the move is set to be confirmed imminently.
Despite their impending rivalry, Modric insists he is delighted by the move, adding: “I’m very happy for him because he deserves it. Going to a great club like Barca, represents an important step in his career.”
Modric also backed Rakitic to be a big success – both in Brazil and then at the Nou Camp.
“Everyone saw last season what he is capable of doing,” he said. “He is a great footballer who is progressing and I am convinced that his performances over the next few seasons will be even better.
“I’m sure he’ll have a spectacular World Cup and will be one of our outstanding players.”