rakitic rejects PSG links

By Joshua Walters

Ivan Rakitic has rejected rumors that he is joining Paris Saint-Germain next season and says he would stay in Barcelona for a long time.

Ivan Rakitic is heavily linked with an exit from the Camp Nou, despite signing a 5-year contract extension in 2017, and PSG have emerged as front-runners for the midfielder.

Rakitic had a good World Cup with Croatia in Russia, and reports are that he is asking Barcelona to review his contract or have him leave to the Parc des Princes.

But the versatile midfielder told reporters after Barcelona’s 1-0 win at Valladolid on Saturday, he has the blessings of his family and his handlers to remain with the Catalan giants.

"It's a privilege wearing the shirt. I am very happy and I hope to be here for a long time."

"Playing in the biggest club in the world is the biggest thing. I have spoken to my wife, family, and my agent and we all decided that we are very well here. There is no other club able to offer me what Barcelona is offering. The most important thing now is to prepare for the next games in the best possible way."

Barcelona were far from convincing, but still squeezed through with a 1-0 La Liga win over Real Valladolid at the Estadio José Zorrilla.

Ousmane Dembele gave Barcelona the lead in the 57th minute, but the champions had the Video Assistant Referee to thank as Keko’s injury-time goal was ruled offside.

Barcelona struggled to impose their passing game on Valladolid but that could be blamed on the uneven nature of the pitch.

Ousmane Dembele blew a close-range effort over the bar in the 5th minute before Marc-André ter Stegen pulled two brilliant saves to deny Enes Unai and Ruben Alcaraz from burying the ball at the top right corner in the 7th and 14th minutes respectably.

Ousmane Dembele went close again in the 22nd minute but missed and Luis Suarez right footed shot from the center of the box in the 33rd minute was saved in the bottom left corner by Jordi Masip.

It became evident the champions were doomed to a scoreless first half when Jordi Masip saved another goal-bound strike from Felipe Coutinho in the 41st minute.

Enes Unal right footed a shot wide after the re-start and Jordi Masip palmed Ousmane Dembele’s flick to corner in the 49th minute, eight minutes after which Sergi Roberto headed Luis Suarez’s stray cross into Ousmane Dembele’s path for the French striker to hit home with his first touch.

Gerard Pique was shown the yellow card on the hour mark, four minutes before Sergio Soriano replaced Borja Fernandez with Keko but Oscar Plano would miss the post with a right footed shot in the 70th minute.

Ernesto Valverde responded six minutes later by giving newly-signed Arturo Vidal his debut by replacing Dembele.

Keko Oliva’s header from the center of the box was saved in the bottom left corner, and Valverde threw in another dice by bringing on Malcom for Coutinho in the 84th minute.

Malcom lashed a feeble shot at Jordi Matip in the 89th minute, but Ruben Alcaraz could not make Barcelona pay for the miss when he missed the top left corner with a left footed shot.

But it was the hosts that ruled the VAR five minutes into stoppage time when Keko was flagged offside after burying Fernando Calero’s through pass.