Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has rejected any claims that Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic could be on his way to Merseyside in the next transfer window.
Liverpool owner John W Henry was in attendance at the Camp Nou this weekend as he watched Barcelona's last minute 2-1 win over Leganés. This provoked some speculation over the future of Croatian Ivan Rakitic who has struggled for first-team action this season with new recruits Denis Suárez and Andre Gomes handed more opportunities.
Speaking to Sky Sports in his weekly column, Balague was asked whether Liverpool fans could be expected to see Rakitic playing for them at Anfield next season and he played it down by stating: Do you really believe that the owner of Liverpool, especially given the way they are structured, is going to go to the Camp Nou just to spy or scout on a player?
I think it is important to know how clubs work and that is definitely not the way that Liverpool work.�
Rakitic has won two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies and a Champions League in his three seasons with the Catalan club. Barcelona signed the midfielder from fellow La Liga rivals Sevilla in the summer of 2014. The Croatian alsoenjoyed a successful spell with the Andalusian side winning the Europa League in his last season with the club.
The Croatian would no doubt be a wonderful inclusion to the Premier League, but for this moment in time, his futures lies in Spain with Barcelona.