MLS
Ivan Rakitic wants to stay at Sevilla and not sign for Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami
The Croatian had been linked with a move to Inter Miami and MLS, but the player seems to have made his intentions clear about staying in Spain.
Ivan Rakitic has addressed the rumours that he may well be packing his bags and moving to the United States to join Inter Miami and Lionel Messi in MLS.
The Croatian midfielder answered a question on social media relating to his future and it appears that David Beckham’s Dream Team project will have to look for a new midfield option.
His recent goal in the Derbi Sevillano against Real Betis, a long-range strike, gave his side (and his manager) much-needed breathing room in the league. It was Ivan’s second goal in three games and was one that allowed the club to remain a safe distance away from the relegation zone in the LaLiga standings.
Rakitic opens up on ‘verbal agreement on a 2-year contract renewal’
Sevilla’s Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán has seen the Croatian get back to his best once again, just like in the second half of the previous campaign, when he was a fundamental figure in the middle of the pitch. Now, at 35-years-old and his contract expiring next June, Rakitic looks to have sorted his future out after having been linked with a move to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
The footballer wants to stay at Sevilla and took to social media to confirm the rumours that have swirled around Sevilla in recent weeks and months. This week, the Croatian responded to a question put to him on Instagram, in which he was asked: “Rakitic to Inter Miami?”
Rakitic’s response was humorously written in the third person, but the message was clear: “It could happen, but I think he will stay here, there is meant to be a verbal agreement on a 2-year contract renewal let’s see what happens, hopefully our Croatian stays”.
Saudi Pro League and MLS both had eyes on Rakitic
Sevilla and the midfielder have spoken about the agreement mentioned in the response, and they must land on a much lower wage than what he currently earns from the deal agreed when he joined from Barcelona - the highest in the squad. The relationships are strong and Rakitic also routinely shows his importance to the side both on and off the pitch.
Hope is not high on the other side of the pond, with Inter Miami and some other teams realising the situation regarding their dream midfielder, as well as the Saudi Pro League, who had an eye on the player and offered him a wage almost three times higher than what he currently earns: €10 million per year.
But Rakitic does not want to go, just as he said in a recent interview: “I don’t think about anything else other than playing here (for Sevilla), carrying on here, there is no better place than Sevilla. I can’t say I was born a Sevillano and a Sevilla fan, but I will die being one. I want to stay here for many more years.” You don’t get much clearer than that, and it seems Beckham’s dream of bringing in Lionel Messi’s good friend is over.