Lionel Messi denied! Ivan Rakitic responds to reports he could link up with former Barcelona team-mate in MLS at Inter Miami

There had been suggestions that the veteran Croatian playmaker could be reunited with his former Barcelona team-mate in the United States. Messi has already been joined in Florida by Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, while Luis Suarez could soon be heading to America from Brazilian outfit Gremio.

Rakitic, who spent six years at Camp Nou between 2014 and 2020, has played down talk of him heading in a similar direction as his contract runs down at Sevilla. Responding to a message on social media which asked the question “Rakitic to Inter Miami?”, the 35-year-old midfielder said: “It could happen, but I think he will stay here, there is meant to be a verbal agreement on a 2-year contract renewal let’s see what happens, hopefully our Croatian stays.”

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Rakitic has previously said of wanting to extend his association with Sevilla, during a second stint with the Liga outfit: “I don’t think about anything else other than playing here, carrying on here, there is no better place than Sevilla. I can’t say I was born a Sevillano and a Sevilla fan, but I will die being one. I want to stay here for many more years.”

There has also been talk of Rakitic attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, with big money on offer in the Middle East, but the classy Croatian is happy where he is and has no desire to follow in the footsteps of Messi or the Argentine's eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo by taking in a change of scenery for 2024.