Rakitić back at Camp Nou 32 days after

Ivan Rakitić is on his way back to Camp Nou, just 32 days after saying goodbye to FC Barcelona. The Croat is back playing for Sevilla, and as fate should have it, the Andalusian team are the opposition in Sunday’s league game at 9.00pm CEST. 

“I leave in gratitude, with Barça in my heart” said Rakitić in a press conference in the Auditori 1899 last September 2, looking back at six spectacular years in which he won 13 major trophies. “There was no better way to start the day than to get in the car and go to the Ciutat Esportiva to train.”

But he’s now back at the club he played for prior to his move to Catalonia. It looks like he’s going to be a big part of Julen Lopetegui’s plans and already has a goal in his account this season. However, he has already promised that “if ever I score against Barça in the future, I won’t be celebrating. I have Barça in my heart.”

Proud achievements

Ivan scored 36 goals and gave 40 assists in his 310 games in blaugrana. The most famous was surely the one against Juventus in the 2015 Champions League Final, the first of a 3-1 win in Berlin that won the club’s fifth Champions League title.

Those 310 games are the fourth highest for any foreigner at FC Barcelona. Only Messi (733), Alves (391) and Mascherano (334) registered more appearances. 

His 13 titles at Barça include four Ligas (2014/15,  2015/16, 2017/18 & 2018/19), one  Champions League (2014/15), and four editions of the  Copa del Rey (2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17 &  2017/18).