Ivan Rakitic has insisted that there is no way for him to replace Xavi atBarcelona but insists that he doesn’t want to try to anyway as he is his own player.
Rakitic was signed by Barcelona in 2014 and a year later captain Xavi was allowed to leave the Catalan side, ending an 18-year association with the Spanish giants.
With Xavi gone, the Croatian had been expected to step up and play his role, something Rakitic has done frequently with the 28-year-old featuring 15 times in La Liga this season, scoring two goals.
But Rakitic has insisted it would be impossible for anyone to replace Xavi at the Nou Camp, indicating that the experienced Spaniard was one of a kind at Barcelona.
Rakitic added that he wouldn’t try to replace Xavi anyway as he considers himself a completely different player to his former teammate anyway.
When asked about being Xavi’s replacement Rakitic told Sport: “First point: replacing Xavi? That doesn’t exist.
“Secondly, I would like not to be compared with anyone, I want to be myself and give the team what I can. I don’t dribble like Leo, score like Luis, give passes like Andres, I’m not always switched on like Pique, but I think I add my qualities.”
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