Chelsea target Ivan Rakitic has revealed he is not thinking of leaving Barcelona and he hopes to be at the club for a longtime. Manchester United and Chelsea are understood to be keeping tabs on the experienced Croatian midfielder with his Nou Camp future looking uncertain.
The Catalan club may decide to move on from the 30-year-old in the summer when youngster Frenkie De Jong arrives as the future of their central midfield. Rakitic admitted his future is up in the air at Barcelona as he pushes for their hierarchy to open negotiations over a contract renewal. But he’s determined to remain in Spain rather than seeking a move to the Premier League. “Since I’ve been here I do not know how many times I’ve left and I’m back,” Rakitic said after Barcelona’s Copa del Rey success over Sevilla.
“I’m more than happy here and my intention is to be here longer. “I gave the president a little nudge to see if he would wake up with my renewal.” The 101-cap Croatian international is under contract at the Nou Camp until next summer. He was in typically excellent form as he helped guide the Blaugrana past his former club and into the Copa del Rey semi-final.His future was on the agenda in discussions afterwards and he revealed that he is making movements on trying to secure a new deal.
“Since I’ve been here, I don’t know how many times I’ve said that I want to stay and I’ll say it again,” he said.”I’m more than happy here and my intention is to be here even longer. I gave the president a little reminder to see if he could get my renewal going.”Rakitic, whose contract runs until 2021, also admitted that it was difficult for him to take down a Sevilla side who he still retains a great deal of affection for and hopes he can repay them for it down the line.
“We want to do things right in the Copa and we played a great game so we enjoyed it and are on the right track,” he continued.”I still have a lot of respect for my Sevilla and this hurts a little to do that but I’m here to give my best.”I just hope that it can be a final against Betis.”