Barcelona's Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic passes the ball during the Spanish Super Cup semi final between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid on Jan 9, 2020, at the King Abdullah Sport City in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah. (FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP)
MADRID - FC Barcelona's Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic said he wanted respect from the club in an interview published with the newspaper El Mundo Deportivo on Monday.
The 32-year-old had forced his way back into the Barca side after it looked as if the club was looking to sell him in both the summer and in the January transfer window, but it seems likely that Barca will not look to renew his contract, which is due to expire in the summer of 2021 and he will be on the market again.
I'm not a sack of potatoes. I am the person who will decide my future and I want to feel valued
Ivan Rakitic, Midfielder, FC Barcelona
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However, speaking to the Barcelona based paper, Rakitic said that he would not be pushed out just to bring in funds for new players.
"I'm not a sack of potatoes," said the midfielder. "I am the person who will decide my future and I want to feel valued. If it is still here, then I will be delighted, but if it is not going to be here, then it will be where I decide," he added.
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Rakitic also spoke about the possible end to a season that has been put on hold by the coronavirus and said he had no problems playing in July or August, as has been mooted as a solution.
"The heat isn't a problem, of course we would like to play with the stadiums full with fans, but the questions is perhaps, not whether we want to play or not, but whether there will be possibility to do so," he explained.
Barcelona's Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic (R) challenges Real Sociedad's Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on March 7, 2020. (LLUIS GENE / AFP)
