Barcelona Deny Plans To Sell Rakitic

By Nigel Philips

Barcelona Sporting Director, Pep Segura, has denied reports that the La Liga champions planned to sell midfielder Ivan Rakitic in the summer transfer window.

Segura tells Sports offers came from abroad for the Croatian stalwart but were rejected because neither the club nor the 30-year-old player wanted to opt out of the agreement between them.

Rakitic was courted by French giants Paris Saint-Germain and a host of other European clubs during the summer despite having a contract with Barcelona until 2021.

"We did not contemplate his exit," says Segura. "We knew that he had an option from a foreign club, but we had no interest in him going.”

"In Spanish football, there's a complex weapon with the release clauses. We're the only league with [mandatory] release clauses and the danger [that the clauses are triggered] is there, but neither the club nor player wanted him to leave."

Rakitic helped Barcelona to the La Liga title last season and Croatia to the finals of the 2018 World Cup.

He joined Barcelona from Sevilla in the 2014/15 season and has made 236 appearances for Barcelona and scored 33 goals.