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Barcelona’s midfield has had the honour of harbouring an array of talented players over the years.
But one that often slips under the radar is Ivan Rakitic, who contributed considerably in his 310 games for the Catalan giants.
The Croatian was recently inducted into Barcelona’s ‘Legends’ list, as he is recognized as one of the key architects behind the team’s successes during his tenure.
Now, Rakitic has opened up about several topics related to Barça on the ARLS podcast.
Playing with the best
Rakitic made an early impression under Luis Enrique by phasing out Xavi Hernandez from the starting XI in the 2014/2015 season.
The 36-year-old proved to be a versatile operator and offered a different profile to the options Barcelona already possessed, which allowed the team to strike a balance in midfield.
“When I joined Barcelona, I knew that I would play with Iniesta, Xavi, and Busquets. I knew that I had to change my playing style,” Rakitic acknowledged.
While Barcelona’s midfield was no slouch, it was the team’s attack that often stole the spotlight.
Rakitic remarked that playing alongside the formidable trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar Jr. was an incredible experience.
But he emphasized that their success was made possible by the stability provided by defensive and midfield support.
“Of course, I can say that I enjoyed playing with Messi, Neymar and Suarez. Hopefully, they say that they enjoyed playing with Rakitic too.
“They scored 100 goals per season, but they couldn’t have done it without the support at the back,” Rakitic stated.
Rakitic was part of an iconic Barcelona team. (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)
How his signing came about
The Croatian midfielder admitted his signing transpired smoothly before the 2014 World Cup and was completed in a matter of just three days.
“Before the World Cup in Brazil, Barcelona contacted me. It was Zubizarreta who spoke to me, then Luis Enrique. We completed the signing in…
Source link : https://barcauniversal.com/barcelona-icon-on-playing-with-messi-neymar-suarez-they-couldnt-have-done-it-without-the-support/
Author : Shahraiz Sajjad
Publish date : 2024-04-25 15:57:11
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