Interview

The Croatian admits he regrets missing out on Serie A move despite Barcelona success

Rakitic’s Biggest Regret: Croatian legend Reveals Personal Call from Cristiano Ronaldo in 2019

Croatian legend Ivan Rakitic’s revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo personally called him in 2019 to convince him to join Juventus during his time at Barcelona.

Ronaldo’s personal call

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Rakitic confirmed the story:

“It’s true, Cristiano called me in 2019 and said: ‘Come to Juventus’ Honestly I would have loved to play in Italy. That’s my biggest regret”

The former Barca midfielder praised Italian football & lifestyle, adding:

“I admire Italian football and your way of life. I’m also huge fan of Gennaro Gattuso who coached me at Hajduk Split. Italy has fantastic coach who will achieve great things”

Why the move never happened

Rakitic explained that his transfer fee and commitment to Barcelona blocked the move:

“That was 1 reason but the main 1 is that I was at Barca. I was lucky to play there, then at Sevilla & Hajduk. It could’ve been great deal but my life turned out great anyway”

An Italian chance lost long before

The 37 year old revealed that he almost joined Italian giant in 2011 before signing for Sevilla. At the time .. a Serie A club offered private jet to bring him to Italy but he refused out of loyalty to Sevilla (and fate intervened).

“I told my brother: I won’t go, I gave my word to Sevilla’s president. And see that waitress? I’ll marry her”

That waitress, Raquel Mauri, became his wife and the mother of his daughters, Althea & Adara.

On Modric and the future

Rakitic also spoke about his close friend Luka Modric who joined AC Milan at 40:

“I thought he’d finish at Real Madrid but seeing him at Milan makes me so happy. I’ll celebrate all his victories as if they were mine”

As for himself, Rakitic’s now sporting director at Hajduk Split and preparing for future in coaching:

“I’m studying sports management and taking coaching course. I believe I’ll become coach soon”…