Ivan Rakitic focused on future despite unhappiness about Barcelona stay
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has admitted he is unhappy with how the club handled his future after being linked with a move away in January.
Rakitic, 31, joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2014 and quickly became a key player for the Blaugrana as they won the treble in his debut campaign. The Croatian has featured 292 times for Barcelona, winning four league titles, four Spanish cups and the Champions League.
However, just 24 of those appearances have come this season, with Rakitic only getting his eighth La Liga start of the campaign in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Levante on Sunday.
Throughout the campaign, Rakitic has been linked with a move away from Barcelona, with Manchester United, Inter Milan and Juventus the names most frequently mentioned as possible destinations.
But when the January transfer window closed on Friday, Rakitic remained at Barcelona and will be with the club at least until the end of the season.
And Rakitic has admitted that although he accepts Barcelona’s decision not to sell him, the Croatian is unhappy with the way his future has been handled.
“I’ve been through some bad times, but it’s now in the past,” he told reporters.
“I can say very clearly that things have happened that I have not liked. I have not deserved some of the behaviour (towards me).”
However, despite being unhappy, Rakitic remains committed to helping Barcelona in the second-half of the season as they look to retain their La Liga title.
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Quique Setien’s side are currently three points behind leaders Real Madrid, having lost four of their first 22 games, already more than they did in last season’s campaign.
The Blaugrana also remain in the Champions League, where they face Napoli in the last-16, and the Copa del Rey with Athletic Bilbao their quarter-final opponents.
He added: “You (the media) also know how things are, but it’s not the moment to open this issue again, but of course I have planned to leave because it’s been a complicated time.
“Now I want to turn the page and work hard to help the team in the decisive moment of the season.”