Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic is apparently part of a grout chat on messaging app WhatsApp with Juventus players Mario Mandzukic, Marko Pjaca and Dani Alves, according to an exclusive report from the “?Sun.
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The paper claims that the midfielder has told the group – entitled “Juventus” – that he would leave the Nou Camp should manager Luis Enrique remain in charge next season, if he is not already sold beforehand.
Tensions are high between the pair after Enrique discovered Rakitic had relayed information regarding rifts and problems in the dressing room to the Serie A trio.
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It led the Spaniard to leave the Croatian international out of Barca’s game against Villarreal despite the player being fully fit and available.
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The group chat have apparently bombarded Rakitic with messages for the past five months, sending him pleas to join them in Italy as well as posting selfies after victories.
The 28-year-old was signed by the Catalan club in 2014 and was touted as the long-term successor to the legendary Xavi, who now plays for Qatari club Al Sadd.
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Despite initially taking to Barca’s play style like a duck to water, the former Sevilla midfielder has found opportunities a little more limited this season after the signings of Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez last summer.
Some publications have reported that he has been offered a new deal by the club, and is not looking to leave despite the lack of play time. But that hasn’t stopped speculation linking him to Premier League giants Manchester City, who are known to have an ageing midfield and could be in the market for a younger playmaker.”?
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