Ivan Rakitić met with Atlético Madrid over summer move last month | OneFootball

Ivan Rakitić met with Atlético Madrid representatives last month to discuss a potential move away from Barcelona this summer.

That’s according to a report from Marca, who claim the soon-to-be 32-year-old spoke with Atléti officials just two days after their stunning 1-0 Champions League victory over Liverpool.

Atlético have earmarked Rakitić as one of their main transfer targets and the Croatian has made it clear that his main intention is to remain in Spain.

The report also goes so far as to claim that the midfielder has already looked at property in the Boadilla del Monte area of Madrid and that Rakitić will make the move should Atlético stick to the contract terms and length that was spoken about in their February meeting.

However, if the offer changes or if they cannot agree a fee with Barcelona, it appears Rakitić will have no problem seeing out the final year of his current deal in Catalonia.