Ivan Rakitic returns to Europe from Saudi Arabia just six months after leaving Sevilla

Former Barcelona and Sevilla hero Ivan Rakitic is coming back to European football just six months after leaving Andalusia to join Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia. He will be headed to Croatia.

The 36-year-old signed a one-year deal in the Middle East, and played eight times for Al-Shabab, scoring and assisting within that time. However Fabrizio Romano reports that the offer to sign for Hajduk Split on a two-year deal was just too good for him to refuse. Former international teammates for Croatia Nikola Kalinic (Sporting Director) and Ivan Perisic are also there, while he will work under new manager Gennaro Gattuso too.

Ivan Rakitić to Hajduk Split, here we go! Deal done on two year contract valid until June 2026.

Rakitić leaves Al Shabab despite good time in Saudi as wanted to take chance to play in Croatia.

Kalinic as director, Perisić as teammate, Gattuso as coach made difference. pic.twitter.com/6hbeh14ZNP

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 18, 2024

It is worth remembering that despite being from Croatian heritage, and fiercely Croatian, Rakitic has never lived in the country of his father’s birth. Winning 106 caps for Croatia, he will go down as one of their greatest ever midfielders, but Rakitic grew up in Switzerland, and came through the system in Basel. This will give him the chance to live there for the first time.

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