Rakitic lifts the lid on his relationship with Leo Messi and Suarez
Rakitic posa con los trofeos conseguidos con el Barça / | FC Barcelona
The Croatian midfielder was asked if he was close to Messi and Suarez during their time together at FC Barcelona
Ivan Rakitic became the first person to leave FC Barcelona following the side's embarrassing exit from the Champions League. He completed a return to Sevilla in a very low-cost deal.
The Croatian midfielder spoke to 'El Desmarque' and was asked about his relationship with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, two players who he allegedly never got on well with. "I've said my side. My relationship with them was never one of close friends. I believe that's hard in a group of 23 or 24 players. My closest friends were Andres Iniesta, ter Stegen, Boateng and Junior Firpo last season. But I respect them both. They were my teammates for six years and are very important players. I've always got on incredibly well and have the utmost respect for them. During the coronavirus lockdown, we've all been very close together, almost neighbours. I'm very thankful for how they've treated me over the years."
