Rakitic wants Barca stay but is 'open to anything'

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, July 23, 2019
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Ivan Rakitic (C) of Barcelona competes during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Lyon and Barcelona in Lyon, France, Feb. 19, 2019. The match ended 0-0. (Xinhua/Franck Pinaro)

FC Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic insisted on Monday that he aims to continue his career with the Liga Santander champions.

The 31-year-old, who joined Barca from Sevilla in 2014, has two years left to run on his current contract. He has been the subject of speculation over his future since the arrival of midfielder Frenkie De Jong from Ajax, but insists he has no plans to move.

"My idea is very clear; I want to stay at Barca. People talking about my future is a situation I'm used to. It happened to me last year," said Rakitic in a press conference on Barca's current visit to Japan, where they will play Vissel Kobe and Chelsea.

The Croatian international said he had "spoken with the club and the coach (Ernesto Valverde) and we have the same idea - for me to stay at Barca. We're open to everything, as always, but my intention is to stay. I have two more years on my contract and I want to keep enjoying myself at Barca," said Rakitic.

He said he was not worried by rumors saying "if other teams want me it's because I'm doing things very well," and added he had talked to Barca President Josep Maria Bartomeu "about various things."

Finally he said he knew he would have to work hard to guarantee his place in the Valverde's starting 11.

"Whoever performs best will end up playing. I have told the coach I will give everything, [just] as I have done since I came here," concluded Rakitic. 

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