Ivan Rakitic talks Messi, Yamal, Joan Garcia, Pedri, Xavi, Iniesta, Ter Stegen, Nico | OneFootball

Barcelona legend Ivan Rakitic announced his retirement from football earlier this week and, in a sense, put an end to an iconic career he has had for club and country.

The player’s name will be etched in Barcelona’s history books for not only his overall time at the club but his match-winning goal against Juventus in the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2015.

Speaking to the media in a recent interview, the recently retired legend spoke in depth about several important figures in his journey at Barcelona, his teammates, and several players in the current Barcelona team.

He began by praising Luis Enrique, the man responsible for his move to Barcelona, and his importance in his career.

“A coach who trusted me 100% and made me see football in a slightly different way. Above all also with the way of being, how it was off the field, and everything. It was very clear.”

“It’s no surprise that right now he’s the success he has. To me, when someone has asked me about the most important coach I’ve ever had, I’ve always said it’s Luis. He also convinced me of his game,” he added.

On his former teammates at Barcelona

Rakitic first began by speaking about the retired teammates of his from his days at Barcelona – Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. He began by speaking about the former saying,

“I think that also everything we left in the following years was for not having had Xavi in the locker room,” he began, claiming Xavi’s departure was the one that broke the team.

“Why? Because I learned from Xavi. I think we all learned from him. Better than him in the middle there was none, but it was only what he did in the field,” he added.

Elaborating on what made the former Barcelona coach so special, Rakitic said,

“I was especially impressed by how he dominated the locker room, how he dominated the press, how he dominated the marketing part of the club.”

“I always said that I also like the role of a leader to manage everything. And it helped me to position myself, to see things a little differently. When we lost all this we missed in detail to win the games in the following years,” he added.

Rakitic played in a team of legends. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

He was then reminded of Xavi’s stint as Barcelona manager and how being a manager was not easy, citing the legend’s treatment and exit from the club.

“This is clear, but if Xavi had not reached the team at that time when Barça was, the thing would have been much worse. He has been able to get this equipment out now is partly thanks to him,” he said, crediting Xavi for a big part of Barcelona’s resurrection.

“If they hadn’t signed him when he was in Qatar, all the Cules would have had a big problem. That’s why I’m sorry that in the end it went like this.”

“He gave in to all those boys who are now shining so much. They came out right at a perfect time, but he had that ability to put them where he had to put them. And only Xavi did that,” he concluded.

Speaking on Iniesta and his relationship with the legend, he said: “With Andres, I have gained a friend, an older brother for life. Really, today we talk a lot.

“He is the best friend I’ve met during my time in Barcelona. Hopefully, there will be many more moments with Andrés in the future.”

Rakitic then spoke on his bond with Lionel Messi and how the Argentine was behind the scenes.

“He didn’t even know the ability he had to impress people with his presence. That’s also the nobility he has,” he began.

“I always told him: ‘Leo, you don’t know what you can do with a gesture to a partner. You can’t imagine it.’ Many of us are here, of course, because we love Barça, but also because we love being able to be on a team with you,” he added.

On the talent he had in his boots and how he made the game enjoyable for the team, Rakitic said,

“We knew that with him we were going to enjoy. If he enjoys… the game is enjoyed. It is fun in training.”

“I had suffered against him before in the matches against Sevilla, and then I was able to enjoy it at Barça. And right now, you can also see what he is capable of doing,” he added.

“He has raised a country as huge as the United States and exalted football. And he looks very happy, he can be seen enjoying it a lot,” he concluded.

On whether Messi was the greatest footballer of all time, the club icon had no doubts.

“Of course. Of what I have seen and what I have not seen. It’s a shame not to have seen other greats like Maradona or Pele, of course, but there is only one who started as a young man and has been doing the same things for more than 20 years of career.”

Rakitic with Messi. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“I always remember when we played short games against him in training. Luis always said: ‘Be careful, he’s left-footed.’ I replied: ‘Defend him if you’re so smart.’

“And then he went to the right, put the ball to the left, and did everything you can imagine. He was and is unstoppable.”

He also spoke on how Messi was always humble and reached out to him as a friend from the very beginning.

“I remember, he was one of the first to tell me: ‘Ivan, if you need anything, let me know’.”

“And I can’t say that I was his close friend like Luis [Suárez] or Jordi [Alba] were, but I always felt very supported by him. He knew that, apart from the admiration he had for him, he had a great respect for him,” he added.

Rakitic then went on to talk about Neymar Jr and the magic the Brazilian produced at Barcelona.

“He was crazy. In training, you couldn’t put them together. At Barça, we enjoyed a very different Neymar from the one who was at PSG. He was a Neymar very close to Messi.”

“It was crazy to have both of them there, to be honest. And besides, later we had a guy upstairs who scored goals everywhere, who had a goal nose like no one else. An outrage,” he added on MSN.

On the current Barcelona team

Speaking on the current team under Hansi Flick, the club icon praised the squad and what they produced last season.

“They are back and in a very nice way. Last year the only thing missing was someone with a little more experience. But I think Barça is very scary, not only in the League, but also in Europe.”

Speaking on Lamine Yamal and what made the youngster so special, he said,

“Well, he is the future of the club. Clearly. We must let him enjoy, keep dancing. Because we all did it when we were 17. Enjoy.”

“He will know what he has to do and he knows that he has the affection of all of us,” he added.

On whether Yamal would start in the team Rakitic played in, the legend said: “He would have fought with his idol, Neymar. But not only him. Anyone. It was difficult, very difficult. But of course we would have loved to have a boy like him on the team, of course.”

The face of the current Barcelona team. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

The topic of discussion then moved to Pedri and whether he saw flashes of Iniesta in the youngster.

“No, I want to see Pedri. First, that Andres is unique and very different, but Pedri has his qualities, which are very Barça’s. That’s why he’s enjoying it and that’s why it works the way it works.”

“Many times, there are players who are a little made for a team, for a club. I think that with Pedri and Barça it goes to 100 percent. He understands the game, the positioning and that’s why it works,” he added.

“Besides, thank God, this year he has no longer had major injuries and has been able to really enjoy the rhythm of competition. He has been able to play ten games in a row without any problem,” he concluded.

Rakitic was also asked his verdict on Nico Williams rejecting Barcelona for not providing him assurances and if he would have done the same.

“Everyone has to know what is important. For me, in the end… it was like that. When they called me, it was clear to me: ‘I have to look for an agreement, whatever it is’.”

“It’s not that I need a clause or not. Of course, you can ask for things. If we really want both parts, we find a solution anyway,” he added.

Rakitic’s interview ended with a small question on Barcelona’s goalkeeper situation, where he first commented on the signing of Joan Garcia.

“Hansi is going to have a pretty tight situation there, because only one goalkeeper can play. We already know how they are.”

“Joan Garcia is good, he is a very talented goalkeeper. But he’s competing with Marc. If I have Ter Stegen on my team, Ter Stegen will play,” he added.

He also backed Ter Stegen to start ahead of Garcia, saying: “That’s very clear. Besides, he is the captain, he has everyone’s respect and is very important. I am convinced that Hansi has a plan, he has prepared it well.”

He also said explicitly that having Ter Stegen as a substitute would not be feasible for the club.

“It is only important that the hierarchy is well ordered and that things are well known from the first day. I am convinced that Hansi knows what he has to do, but for me, clearly, if Marc is on my team, he will always play,” he said.

Source: SPORT