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Barcelona and Lionel Messi shortlist a replacement for Ivan Rakitic

By Atharva Khadilkar

VILLAREAL, SPAIN - APRIL 02: Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona celebrate after the fourth goal of his team scored by Luis Suarez (not in frame) during the La Liga match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio de la Ceramica on April 02, 2019 in Villareal, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
VILLAREAL, SPAIN - APRIL 02: Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona celebrate after the fourth goal of his team scored by Luis Suarez (not in frame) during the La Liga match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio de la Ceramica on April 02, 2019 in Villareal, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images) /
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Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has suggested that the club signs a replacement for Ivan Rakitic, and one of their targets is available for a reasonable cost.

Barcelona are plotting to get rid of Ivan Rakitic during the summer and it does look like the player is wanting to leave the club at the end of this season as well. The Croatia international has won a lot at Barcelona and feels the need for a new challenge in another country, whereas Barcelona want to sell him to make room for Frenkie de Jong.

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However, Ernesto Valverde considers Ivan Rakitic to be very important, but Barcelona’s board thinks otherwise. It does look like the Croat’s departure in the summer will be a give nonetheless, thanks to offers coming in from Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus- both of whom will offer perfect ecosystems for a new challenge.

Ivan Rakitic’s exit is certainly going to blow Barcelona and Ernesto Valverde because he is extremely good and his fitness is no let down either. Moreover, Arturo Vidal could follow the former Sevilla midfielder to the exit door at the Camp Nou as well as he has not had too many chances and that will further complicate next season.

Ernesto Valverde has asked Barcelona’s board to look at replacements for the outgoing Chilean and Croatian midfield duo and it seems like the former Athletic Bilbao boss will be getting a crucial yet cheap name on the suggestion of Lionel Messi to the board- Real Betis’ Giovani Lo Celso– who is on loan at the Seville-based club from Paris Saint-Germain.

The 22-year-old is young and has shown at Betis this season but will possibly not have a very bright future at Paris because of the team’s depth and spending capacity which allows them to replace players as soon as they are considered obsolete. And hence, Barcelona will make an attempt to sign Lo Celso by raising a bid of 40 million euros during the summer.

Next. Real Madrid hold secret talks with two Barcelona targets. dark

Will Giovani Lo Celso be a good fit at Barcelona under Ernesto Valverde’s system?

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