Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has moved to quell suggestions
that he said he wants Real Madrid to win the Champions League.
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has moved to quell suggestions that he said he wants Real Madrid to win the Champions League.
Rakitic
told Sportske Novosti recently that Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric
winning the Champions League could provide the Croatia camp with a boost
ahead of Euro 2016.
Coming off the back of
Barcelona's European exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid, Rakitic's
comments promptly caused consternation in both Catalan and Madrid's
notoriously partisan media circles.
Responding to a
question if Barca's Champions League loss would make him fresher for
the Euros, Rakitic said: "Each of us want big trophies and, if you
succeed, tiredness is less important. There would have been enough time
left to recover.
"That is why I wish Luka Modric
would win that trophy because it would be another stimulation to all of
us [in Croatia's national team]."
In an attempt to
soothe any rising anger among Barca fans, Rakitic has quickly pointed
out that he will not be supporting Madrid when they take on Manchester
City in the semi-finals.
"Some people should
change translators," he posted on Twitter. "I wish the best to Luka, but
I have never said that I want Real Madrid to win the UCL."
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