Rakitic forced to flee after holiday home is attacked

Barcelona's Croatian international Ivan Rakitic was forced to flee the holiday home where he and his family had been spending their summer vacations after he was attacked by a band of violent Croatia fans, local media reported on Saturday.

Six young fans hurled stones at the bayside luxury villa where Rakitic and his family had been staying.

The assailants smashed windows and broke down the door before escaping, Croatian daily Večernji list reports. Half an hour later, Rakitic and his family abandoned the island by boat.

The newspaper added that locals in Ugljan were highly excited by the Barça star's visit and now deeply saddened that they will probably get the chance to see him again. Before going on holiday, Rakitic had been involved in Euro 2016 with Croatia, who were eliminated from tournament by Portugal in the Last 16.