Ivan Rakitic has handed a blow to Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of signing him this summer, telling Sky Sports that he is fully focused on seeing out his contract at Barcelona instead.
Things change quickly in the transfer market – as Spurs fans everywhere are about to find out.
As recently as last week, Mundo Deportivo reported that the North London giants were leading the likes of Juventus for the signature of a Champions League winning midfielder with 106 international caps on his CV.
But it hasn’t taken Rakitic long to set the record straight.
His first, and perhaps only, priority is ensuring that he stays at the Camp Nou for at least another season.
“I’ve still got a contract, when I sign a contract I always intend to fulfil it, and if that cannot happen for any reason, then we’ll sit down together and talk about it,” said Rakitic, who Estadio Deportivo claimed could be available for just £13 million.
“But for the moment, I am very happy here and I am thinking about other stuff.”
As it stands, the 32-year-old former Basel, Schalke and Sevilla star has another 14 months remaining on his deal with the kings of Catalonia. And he doesn’t exactly sound like a man pining for a move to Tottenham.
That does not mean, however, that Rakitic is 100 per cent guaranteed to stay at Barcelona next season. The La Liga leaders are more desperate than ever to sign a top-class attacking with Luis Suarez well into his thirties now but, according to Goal, they have just £25 million in their back pocket at present.
If an acceptable offer arrives, Rakitic’s future may be taken out of his hands.
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