Ivan Rakitic
- Thread starter Drifter
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He just doesn't seem like the hard working runner that Simeone likes. Raul Garcia seems to fit that mould much better IMO, but then maybe he would adapt.
Surprised he chose Croatia tbh, imagine the Suisse team with him as well, prefer him to Behrami
Feels like a red flag, that.
I'm not surprised. Lots of our players were born in and started in Germany, Australia, Switzerland but felt the homeland calling.
Some of them didn't of course but we're lucky some of them were the backbone of our teams (Robert and Niko Kovač, Rakitić, Šimunić..)
I'm not surprised. Lots of our players were born in and started in Germany, Australia, Switzerland but felt the homeland calling.
Some of them didn't of course but we're lucky some of them were the backbone of our teams (Robert and Niko Kovač, Rakitić, Šimunić..)
I know what you mean but he was born there, he's really rooted in Switzerland. It's not merely his paperwork and he did play for Suisse youth teams. Completely another topic but I always found his story interesting in the fabric of the larger minority diaspora en Suisse
Well if I remember that was a big story in Switzerland, it didnt go well with the Suisse and understandbly so.
Yeah, I've read some of that, terrible really. Happened before I moved here but in Suisse Romande (where I live), I've never witnessed that sort of nationalism. Surprised me really but Basel is football crazy too
Thing is, national team is a big thing here, and lot of our players and people who live and work abroad still have a big national pride, I think it was the same with Ivan, Switzerland gave him everything but he wanted to play for his father's and his homeland.
I understand why people in Switzerland and Basel were angry but I understand Rakitićs too.
He is signing for Barca for 20m...another one gone!
Artur Petrosyan @arturpetrosyan 2m
Another player turned down a 'dream move to Man United'. Ivan Rakitic preferred Barcelona having signed a 5-year contract with them.
Another player turned down a 'dream move to Man United'. Ivan Rakitic preferred Barcelona having signed a 5-year contract with them.
Fantastic player, but I'm not sure it's the right move for Barcelona...
Maybe now we will go for the fallback option. United to hijack the Fabregas deal to Chelsea.
We won't ever have been in for him.
di marzio says we were
I prefer to think we were only in for a player when they end up here, it makes the rejection easier.
Deal still not closed between clubs.
From United point of view too bad if we even weren't interested. Granted he'd probably go to Barca anyway cause I think he dont want to leave Spain.
From Croatia's point of view it would be brilliant, 2 of our 3 best players ( mandža being the 3rd ), one in Barca, other in Real Madrid.
From Croatia's point of view it would be brilliant, 2 of our 3 best players ( mandža being the 3rd ), one in Barca, other in Real Madrid.
Did he really step it up this season or has it been a gradual progression? I remember him being rated at Schalke but don't remember him ever looking particularly impressive for club or country.
Didn't follow him too closely prior to this season but he was fantastic. Pretty much everything good that Sevilla did went through him this year, and I don't think it's any surprise that big clubs were after him.
Guess the question now is whether he can adapt to a situation where he isn't the main man, a lot seem to struggle with that.
I don't think i have ever watched a game where he hasn't been one of the best players on the pitch, one of my favourite players to watch but it is hard to judge if a midfielder can fit into to Barca.
Actually surprised to hear of our interest. Unfortunately, it's always going to be difficult in luring him to the club over a Spanish giant and Champions League team, but if the reported £20M fee is accurate, surely we could have gazumped Barcelona's bid.
Anyway, excellent addition for Barcelona, especially at that price. His incisive through balls and passing range and ability will only enhance there, from the already high standard he's currently set.
Anyway, excellent addition for Barcelona, especially at that price. His incisive through balls and passing range and ability will only enhance there, from the already high standard he's currently set.
Local press from Sevilla, 18 million € supposedly:
Selling cesc and signing him makes little sense. They are similar players and I can't see why he'd succeed where fabregas failed.
I think he's able to play the slightly deeper role better than Cesc, but that doesn't mean that he should be taking Cesc's place in the squad. Mascherano looks to be going to Napoli (not that he plays in midfield now anyway), Xavi is leaving/close to retiring, Sergi Roberto doesn't look top quality. Barca don't actually have all that many quality midfielders at the moment.
Sell Cesc, buy Rakitic for half the money and the salary.
Rakitic works more (more stamina and rythm during 90 minutes) and usually has a great showing against top teams, something many at Barcelona consider Cesc fails at. Also, Cesc can be sold easily for decent money to other clubs and the majority fanbase won't be very disappointed about it, sadly.
haha i can dig it
I think Mascherano is staying for a defensive midfield and cb sub role. Xavi almost gone, Song, Cesc, Afellay, Dos Santos, etc... all gone. Rafinha coming back with Luis Enrique. Denis Suarez also gets a first team contract but most probably leaving on loan a season or two.
That would leave the midfield 3 as Busquets/Mascherano, Iniesta/Rakitic, Rafinha/Xavi/Roberto, and most probably another signing, a more veteran defense oriented midfielder.
Rumoured wage is 8 mill euros, doubt cesc was on more. So only the money in terms of the transfer counts.
Cesc's problem was never work rate/stamina. His problem was that he's too sloppy with the ball, direct and isn't all that great in tight spaces. Him and Rakitic are pretty similar in these qualities IMO. Unless their approach changes, I can't see him doing any better.
Said he was playing well enough to play for Barcelona or Madrid. No surprise at all then that both are in for him.
Rakitic has a much better shot and is probably a better dribbler than Fabregas. Fabregas' best parts when he went to Barcelona were similar to what was already at the club. Because other players were already providing what he could, he was asked to do other things - make runs, get some goals etc, stuff that he's never been particularly good at. It should suit Rakitic better
Rakitic has a much better shot and is probably a better dribbler than Fabregas. Fabregas' best parts when he went to Barcelona were similar to what was already at the club. Because other players were already providing what he could, he was asked to do other things - make runs, get some goals etc, stuff that he's never been particularly good at. It should suit Rakitic better
Actually I wouldn't say Rakitic's stamina is that good and he can fade out of matches when playing in the hole. He's also prone to going down very easily but tends to get freekicks a fair amount
A fantastic signing for Barcelona [if he goes through as expected]. The amount of quality players we miss out on/or don't even consider is staggering at times. 20m Euros and that's peanuts for this guy! I trust LVG though, he must have a solid plan if he's passing up on these players.
I'd wait to see the final wage. Rakitic was on 2m at Sevilla, Iniesta/Xavi are on 8m at Barcelona, so I have doubts he would enter the team with such a high wage for a pseudo low key signing. It wouldn't surprise me if Rakitic's wage ends up being around 4m clean, 8m brute that is being reported.
I completely agree Rakitic needs space and verticality, but he does have more speed and higher work rate and stamina than Cesc. Also, Rakitic usually has great showing in important games, something Cesc has been criticised for.
Luis Enrique will probably want a more vertical and pressing Barcelona, less rigid in position and formation, so hopefully this will suit Rakitic better if he ends up coming.
It's not that Rakitic is a powerhouse of stamina, but better than Cesc.
We weren't interested.
Atletico, Barca and Real have been vying for him for months, there was never any chance of him leaving Spain.
Atletico, Barca and Real have been vying for him for months, there was never any chance of him leaving Spain.
I guess we'll just have to see on the wage. Remember he's got offers from all the la liga heavyweights plus he's actually a big time player in spanish football. Don't let the 20 mil euro fool you, he's left with 1 year so that's probably half the price he'd normally be going for.
Showing up in big games for sevilla is different to showing up for barca. He'll have to prove that he can perform vs a madrid and atletico with a parked bus. Something he's never really faced so I guess we'll just see how that goes.
Vertical is just something barca fans aren't all that into. The cesc debacle has shown that. Pep has turned barca into something they don't seem willing to move away from. Even when martino tried something similar in the beginning of last season and was winning games comprehensively, there were still complaints. Perhaps enrique will be given more leeway considering he's been at the club for some time, but I wouldn't bet on.
Hopefully he does well for barca. He's a quality player in the prime of his career and he's finally earned his big move. I suppose only time will really tell.
Shooting really isn't a way for a barca midfielder to endear himself to the club. Their midfielders rarely shoot and when the do they get the old messi stare. If he is a better dribbler, he's just slightly better but a long way away from iniesta, busquets or xavi. Another strong point of rakitic is his set pieces, but seeing how few Neymar took, I'd say he won't be taking many more if any.
His qualities aren't there, but that's because they're not what they normally want in a midfielder. Xavi, busquets and iniesta are to prototype. Retain the ball in tight spaces, pass it horizontally till clear opportunity presents itself, suffocate opposition midfields and piercing midfield lines with combinations or dribbling(iniesta) is what they specialise in. Give them something different they snub it. Mascherano when he set foot there tried to give them steel and energy, was sent to the defence shortly after. Song has tried to give them strength and adventurous passing, been demoted to a garbage time player. Cesc tried to be more direct and adventurous, now he's getting sold for his troubles Even the heir to the throne(thiago) was at times accused of being reckless with the ball despite his very high level of ball retention.
Yes, there are obviously slight differences in Ivan and cesc's games(shooting, defensive contribution and set pieces the glaring ones) but not enough for him to succeed if they don't change their approach IMO. He's just as direct, he's just as sloppy on the ball, and his 1 touch play is probably worse. The factors that have forced cesc to see the door and I really do due to that have my doubts over whether this will be any different. He'd be better off heading to the prem.
I don't think that he's the source but Sports-Express and him personally are a very unreliable sources, they're as unprofessional as it gets. And, again, how come that Russian journalists know about Croatian player signing for a Spanish club? LFC fan too, it's more of a "trolling" than an actual news.
P.S. didn't knew that we were in for him
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