SEVILLE, Spain (AP) — Spanish membership Sevilla reached a deal for the return of midfielder Ivan Rakitic on Tuesday.
The membership mentioned Rakitic arrives from Barcelona on a contract except 2024.
The 32-year-frail Croatian used to be one of the most gamers that incoming Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman mentioned used to be no longer in his plans for the prolonged poke.
Rakitic had performed three years with Sevilla earlier than joining Barcelona in 2014, the set up he had performed in nearly 200 suits. He left for Barcelona rapidly after helping Sevilla recall the 2014 Europa League title.
Rakitic has 149 appearances with Sevilla, with 32 objectives and 41 assists.
He moreover has bigger than 100 appearances with Croatia, helping the crew attain the 2018 World Cup final.
Rakitic used to be a recent starter with Barcelona at some level of most of his time with the Catalan membership, but he hadn’t been playing as customarily since coach Quique Setién took over in January. Having misplaced playing time to Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong, who joined the membership final summer season, he would include faced additional opponents from recent signing Miralem Pjanic.
Barcelona started restructuring its squad after the 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich within the Champions League quarterfinals.
As well to to Rakitic, recent coach Koeman mentioned he moreover didn’t belief to utilize Luis Suárez, Arturo Vidal and Samuel Umtiti.
Sevilla received its sixth Europa League title this season. It done fourth within the Spanish league, securing a Champions League utter for subsequent season.