Barcelona | Rakitic returns the steering wheel that Xavi sat on the seat

Ivan Rakitic (10-3-1988) returned tonight for the first time at the Camp Nou since the fans returned to the stadiums after the pandemic. He was warmly welcomed. The Croatian made 310 games for Barcelona, ​​during which he scored 35 goals and distributed 42 assists. Majestic professionalism, in the hearts of the fans for goals like the one he scored at the Bernabeu in 0-1 in the league in the 2018-19 season (“Who will drink beer fly,” he said after biting the ball over Courtois), was part of the backbone of Barcelona’s second hat-trick in Club history.

Rakitic played a very crude role in Barcelona. In the 2014-15 season, he was arguably the midfielder who put Xavi on the bench, and he ended up leaving for Qatar at the end of that season. With the team that played much more with the trident of Messi-Suarez-Neymar, Luis Enrique pulled the Croatian, who at that time showed exceptional physical performance and played great seasons with Asturian, but also in the double axle invented by Valverde. Busquets after Neymar farewell. With a distinct tactical feel and an angelic touch, today’s Barcelona fans will recognize him.

Rakitic is not just another foreigner in Barcelona’s history. The Croatian is among the top 5 foreigners with the most games, Just behind the legend, Leo Messi (778), and footballers who were all in the establishment like Daniel Alves (400 and more). Mascherano and Ter Stegen are also ahead of Rakitic, who scored 310 goals, scored 35 goals and distributed 42 assists.