Zagreb, June 6 (IANS): Ivan Rakitic's transfer from Sevilla to FC Barcelona is all but done, local media reported Friday.
Sevilla's captain and one of the key players of Croatian national team had a brilliant season. He helped his team win the UEFA Europa League trophy and was voted the Player of the Match in the Final game against Benfica in Turin, Italy, reports Xinhua.
His performances in Sevilla's jersey got him on the radar of Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid, Barcelona and Spanish champions Atletico Madrid.
Rakitic didn't want to comment on his future but the latest news coming from Spain is that he agreed personal terms with FC Barcelona but the transfer fee has not been decided yet.
"The best option for him is to stay with the club but I can understand his wish to play for Barcelona. If he leaves us, we'll do everything in our power to find a new Rakitic," Sevilla's coach Unai Emery said Friday.
However sad Sevilla's supporters and management are to see Rakitic leave the club, they will still have a substantial financial gain from his transfer.
When Rakitic came from Schalke 04 to Sevilla in January 2011, club from Andalucia paid Germans just 2.2 million euros for his transfer. Now they will get at least ten times more as reports suggests that the transfer fee will be in a range from 25 to 40 million euros.
However, there will be no official confirmation of this transfer as Rakitic is with Croatian national team and focused on his performances at the World Cup.
Rakitic will join 17-year old Croatian Alen Halilovic from Dinamo Zagreb who recently signed a five year contract with FC Barcelona and he will the fourth Croatian to join Barcelona in the club's history.