Rakitic on Lamine Yamal: “He wouldn't be a starter in our Barça” and this is why

Talking about Ivan Rakitić means talking about a midfielder fondly remembered by FC Barcelona and its fans. The Croatian played 310 matches, scored 35 goals, and provided 42 assists during his time at the Catalan club. Those six seasons were more than enough for him to earn the affection of the culé faithful, who often remember him for the stunning goal he scored against Tottenham Hotspur in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League or the goal he netted in the final in Berlin against Juventus, during the last Champions League won by Barça in 2014/15.

The technique from Rakitić 👌#UCL pic.twitter.com/sQ4dhEO6Ls

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) July 1, 2023

This time, however, Rakitić's name is back in the spotlight for an unexpected reason. The midfielder gave an interview to the program "Marcador" on Radio Marca, in which he surprised with a statement about Lamine Yamal, one of the great gems of La Masia. Following a similar line to what Gerard Piqué once said, Ivan stated:

"Piqué is right, Lamine wouldn't be a starter in our Barça"

Far from underestimating the young winger, Rakitić justified his statement by pointing to the historical context of that team:

"At that time, we had the best attacking trio in history with Messi, Neymar, and Suárez"

Rakitić also praised Lamine Yamal

Although his words could have sparked some controversy, Rakitić made it clear how much he values the current Barça player. "Lamine is incredible... I love his boldness, his joy. He has to keep enjoying himself. For me, Lamine is always in my team," he assured.

Thoughts on the current Barcelona and future under Hansi Flick

Beyond the Lamine Yamal topic, Rakitić was also asked about the present of FC Barcelona. Regarding the team's chances of winning the treble this season, he said: "It's difficult, but possible. This Champions League is wide open, but Barça is still alive. I trust the team, the coaching staff, and the manager. They can achieve it, but they will need their best version."

The Croatian also commented on the arrival of Hansi Flick to Barça’s bench: "You have to congratulate the club for betting on him, he has brought personality to the team."

Even so, Rakitić confessed that he would have liked to see Xavi Hernández stay one more year at the helm of the team. "I would have liked Xavi to stay, honestly, but the team has taken a step forward," he concluded.