Luka Modric has said he hoped Barcelona-bound Croatia teammate Ivan Rakitic would join Real Madrid.
Rakitic’s move to Barca from Sevilla is expected to be confirmed in the very near future, Sport reports, and Modric has lamented that Rakitic isn’t going to Santiago Bernabeu.
“It’s clear that if it was me, I would have liked him to sign for Madrid, but in the end it wasn’t to be and he’s gone to Barca,” Modric said.
“I’m delighted for him. He deserves it. When you go to a big club like Barca, which has a global following, it’s an important step in your career.
“Everyone has seen this season what he is able to do. He’s a great player who is progressing and I convinced he will be even better next season.”
Modric added that club loyalties aside, the national team will benefit from Rakitic’s new challenge.
“Ivan is happy – he said – and for him to transfer to a big club like Barca also brings good things for Croatia,” he continued.
“I’m sure he will have a great World Cup and will be one of the top players in our team.
“When you’re a Barca player, everything you do has a higher dimension and that is what will happen now with Ivan at the World Cup.
“Sevilla is a great club that comes from winning a European trophy, but Barcelona even more so.”
Modric and Rakitic are likely to feature for Croatia in the World Cup’s opening game tomorrow, against the hosts Brazil.
