Sevilla sporting director Monchi has said that it would be impossible for Sevilla to land the services of Ivan Rakitic from Barcelona this summer. The Croatia international has only 11 months remaining on his contract with the Catalan giants and there have been no talks over a possible renewal beyond that period.
Rakitic has regularly stated that he would prefer to see out his contract with the Blaugrana but that has not stopped the speculation regarding his future. Rakitic built his reputation during a four-year spell at Sevilla between 2010 and 2014 and he was their captain during his final two seasons. He has been fancied to make a comeback at some point of time, but Monchi does not believe the midfielder will rejoin them this summer as they can’t afford the financial package for the transfer.
“Ivan is a player who, from what he declares, would like to return to Sevilla today, tomorrow or in two years. That I personally would like him to return? Would I particularly like it to work out so that he could come back? I don't hide the fact that he is my friend. Are those possibilities realistic? At the moment, it looks difficult to me, if not impossible. It is so complicated economically, that I do not see it. We always carry out our planning in secret,” He told Diario de Sevilla.
Rakitic struggled for regular gametime under Ernesto Valverde during the first half of the season and there was the speculation that he could head for the exit door as early as January. However, he has managed to reclaim a regular role with the dismissal of Valverde. Under Setien, he initially struggled as he was offered cameos off the bench, but he has become a more influential player following the coronavirus shutdown.