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Lionel Messi labelled as a “betrayer” by Barcelona regular

By Atharva Khadilkar

10 Leo Messi of FC Barcelona during the Spanish championship La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and Real Valladolid on 16 of February 2019 at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
10 Leo Messi of FC Barcelona during the Spanish championship La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and Real Valladolid on 16 of February 2019 at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain (Photo by Xavier Bonilla/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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Things in the dressing room at Barcelona are not too upbeat after claims that Ivan Rakitic has labelled Lionel Messi as a “betrayer”.

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has done a lot for the club in the last five years after checking in from Sevilla in 2014. The Croatia international was a starter right from the off and his involvement only increased after Ernesto Valverde replacement Luis Enrique. Needless to say, Rakitic has been instrumental for the Catalans who won four league titles and one Champions League during the spell.

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It has been thought that Ivan Rakitic would leave the club during this summer, but things may end up getting dirty at the end. Inter Milan, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have all been credited with interest for the Balkan superstar and the French giants are being considered frontrunners in the quest to land Rakitic.

According to Diario GOL, Ivan Rakitic has told his compatriot Luka Modric that his Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi is a “betrayer” and believes that the team would be in a much better position were it not for Messi’s endless nose poking in everything from team selection to transfers. In an explicit rant, Rakitic was unhappy with quite a few things.

Firstly, Rakitic believes that he has been a lot more hardworking and instrumental for the team that Jordi Alba. But in the recent times, it was the left full back that was given a lucrative contract and the midfielder’s demands were never satisfied despite Barcelona promising him a better deal. Thus, Rakitic is of the opinion that Alba only got the raise because of his relations with Messi.

Secondly and finally, Rakitic believes that Messi convinced the Catalans into signing Frenkie de Jong and wants the Ajax Amsterdam star to play regularly in the Croatian superstar’s position. Given that the former Sevilla midfielder has been working tirelessly for the club, it didn’t strike him nicely and he will leave the club in the summer if a reasonable offer comes, but not on very good terms.

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