Luis Enrique denies Rakitic absence related to Manchester City links

Luis Enrique denies Rakitic absence related to Manchester City links

Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique has dismissed claims suggesting that Ivan Rakitic was left out of their squad on Sunday due to a potential transfer to Manchester City.

Reports in Rakitic’s home country of Croatia recently linked him with a January switch to join ex-Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola in Manchester.

Given that he was left out of Barcelona’s squad for their 1-1 draw with Villarreal on Sunday, many thought they may have been some truth in the stories.

However, Enrique quickly dismissed the talk post-match and claimed that Rakitic’s absence from the squad was in no relation to the transfer story.

“Rakitic’s absence has no relation with that story,” Enrique told reporters post-match.

“Anyway, it doesn’t matter if the media is English, Croatian… you can’t trust the media.”

Lionel Messi saved the Catalan giants at the Estadio de la Ceramica, as the Argentine ace scored a 90th-minute stunner from a free-kick to secure a point.

The draw leaves Barcelona five points behind Real Madrid, who have a game in hand, leaving them a mountain to climb in the La Liga title race.

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