Ivan Rakitić

[Leo_Messi]

I feel that it is time to quote my post number 29 from this thread below:

http://www.barcaforum.com/showthread.php/15584-Should-Barcelona-renew-Ivan-Rakitić-or-not/page2

First of all it must be said that Rakitic has been a good servant for the club and that he seems like a very likable guy. It is not his fault that Valverde has been playing him constantly without a break for 1.5 seasons. Or that Lucho did pretty much the same thing.

However he should by no means get any wage increase or a contract extension for a few very simple and obvious reasons.

1) Can anyone here honestly claim that this current version of a 31 year old Rakitic deserves a wage increase? That would signify that he is a better player than he was in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and last year. Can any sane person claim such a thing? The answer is no.

2) We just bought FDJ for a record Dutch transfer fee. That was a strategic move and obviously the idea is for him to be a starter as soon as possible and as soon as he earns that right which his talent probably will ensure.

3) Arthur. Probably one of the most promising CM's out there. Young and eager to grow and a player that will need continuous playing time.

4) A soon to be 31 year old Busquets just received a contract extension and a likely wage increase not long ago. Having two 31 year olds that are past their best versions of themselves receiving contract extensions and wage increases is just incredibly bad business. From a sporting and economic point of view.

5) Rakitic is, as written earlier, a few weeks away from turning 31. Selling him this summer will be one of our last opportunities to receive a significant transfer fee for him. Not to take advantage of that given Arthur's presence, FDJ's purchase and Busquets likely going nowhere, neither Vidal who IMO has been better than Rakitic this season, would be an incredibly foolish thing to do.

Cat radio did a poll on what to do with Rakitic and 62 Percent of the people who had voted wanted him sold. I have seen it because Francesc Aguliar was complaining about the results on twitter saying he just doesn't understand people and why they want him sold.

Edu Polo claims Barto apparently promised Rakitic a renewal. I hope not because his current contract is fine as it is.

Yes, because giving likely 3 years more (2024) to a 31 year old and declining Rakitic, including a WAGE increase (he will be rewarded for being worse than he was seasons back) makes so, so much sense. In particular as seniors and La Masia graduates like Messi, Piqué and Busquets won't ever be sold and if they will ever leave the club they will very likely leave for free.

Anyway I am 100% sure that Bartomeu will extend his contract. Can't have it any other way. After all we can't have too much good news at once (huge favorites to retain the league, in the CdR final, should get past Lyon, other of our sections winning trophies left and right and doing very well etc.). In traditional fashion we simply have to shot ourselves in the foot at least a few times each season.

Rakitic having had a good game against RM should not change the narrative whatsoever. He might have a stinker against Lyon next week and then what? We can't plan potential player renewals based on players x or y weekly performances. We need to look at the bigger picture and clearly selling Rakitic this summer and getting a decent transfer fee for him, makes more sense (all things considered) than giving him a long contract extension and a wage increase. Should be really simple.

 

[Raketa10]

IMO a Midfield of de Jong, Arthur, Alena and Puig is too young. It won’t work. I would replace Rakitic with Eriksen. One year left on his contract. And we will get a player who will be in his prime and has a lot of the same qualities as Raki.

How much money do you actually think we have? Eriksen would cost a fortune!

 

[raki]

Rakitic will obviously stay.

 

[Giginho75]

Mourinho will either join Inter or Real Madrid.

Please, I want to avoid another "Figo-case". 😕

Here in Italy I read that Rakitic is almost sure a next player of Inter.

Anyway the most important thing is that he continue to play in this way until the end of the season.

Is not market time now.

 

[Andresito]

We shouldn't worry, he'll most definitely return to his mediocre self now that his specialty El Clásico is out of they way.

 

[Porque]

With the rumours of Barcelona thinking of selling Rakitic, I am sure he will be eager to prove he deserves to stay with his performances on the pitch. This can only be good for our end of season run.

Wouldn't put it past our board to sell Vidal to China for good money, not signing Rabiot and keeping Rakitic as our central midfield veteran. Which is not entirely bad as long as Valverde uses the next season to transition in De Jong's minutes and Arthur's responsibility.

 

[Messi983]

Let's hope Raki will get a new contract soon.

 

[DonAK]

Give him an extra year if they want to keep him, but under no circumstances should they offer him a higher pay. People are overreacting now. You have all these guys that's claimed his average games have been great this season and when he finally has a great performance and prob the MOTM performance, you have people overrating him into being a mix of Xavi and Iniesta who should be an undisputed starter and have a higher pay and do as he pleases.

 

[Leo_Messi]

No point in giving him a contract extension as I described in post 9237 even without a wage increase (impossible anyway).

His current contract runs out in 2021. By then he will be 33.5 years old and likely a shadow of his former self. A much bigger decline than his decline since his first 2 seasons here (2014-15, 2015-16). In 2020 we won't receive even close to what we could receive for him this summer. In particular if he continues his current promising form. It's the perfect time to part ways with him.

No point in giving him a contract extension to say 2022 or 2023 when he won't be here by 2021-22 anyway. Hopefully.

Obviously Bartomeu won't do it for well-known reasons and due to not being ruthless enough and too comfortable. This public begging about wanting a new contract is also annoying as hell. Should not happen publicly at such a big club.

 

[xXKonan]

You have to look at his performances as a whole to consider even giving him a new deal.

Seems like in the last couple of years especially when it comes to Classico's Rakitic always seems to perform so well and gets people thinking that he can keep performing like this but in reality, it's hardly the case as he goes back to his patchy form.

As good as it is for Rakitic to show up in Classico's we really shouldn't be quick to give him a new deal due to those Classico performances alone. We need to see the full picture with him.

 

[Joan]

We wouldn't give the deal for Clasico performances anyways. Rakitic is one of our most used players, rarely glamorous, but consistent. If we keep the guy, it's what he means for the team that will decide, not few good (or bad) matches.

Valverde wouldn't want to see his back, either.

 

[DonAK]

We wouldn't give the deal for Clasico performances anyways. Rakitic is one of our most used players, rarely glamorous, but consistent. If we keep the guy, it's what he means for the team that will decide, not few good (or bad) matches.

Valverde wouldn't want to see his back, either.

Let's give Suarez a contract extension and a higher pay too then? I mean he's still scoring a lot of goals. Bigger managers that Valverde have had players they liked leave.

 

[Joan]

Let's give Suarez a contract extension and a higher pay too then? I mean he's still scoring a lot of goals. Bigger managers that Valverde have had players they liked leave.

When did Suarez got his last renewal? I'm not sure, but probably a few years ago. Like 30?

That was not the point. If we're renewing him (which we shouldn't, he's got plenty of it left), it won't be for a few good games in Clasicos.

 

[DonAK]

When did Suarez got his last renewal? I'm not sure, but probably a few years ago. Like 30?

That was not the point. If we're renewing him (which we shouldn't, he's got plenty of it left), it won't be for a few good games in Clasicos.

You can use the same argument for Suarez. No World Class replacement in sight and if there is, will cost too much, still scoring a lot of goals and his contract runs out at the same time as Rakitic's, and I'm pretty sure Valverde would love to have Suarez back too.

The public pressure right now is off the back of the Clasicos and that's just dumb.

 

[Sorin]

Nice, nice! Now play like this for the rest of the CL campaign and sell him on the high in the summer. Do it Barto, convince some unsuspecting club into paying over 60 million for him.

Meanwhile Mourinho does a wonderful job of hyping him up for us.