Ivan Rakitic extends contract with Barcelona till 2021

Barcelona, March 10: After their historic qualification for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, La Liga giants FC Barcelona confirmed that Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic has extended his contract with the club until the end of June 2021.

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The Croatian arrived at Barca from Sevilla in the summer of 2014 aged 26 and had been a key part of the side in the past three years, reports Xinhua news agency.

He has played 145 first team games, scoring 23 goals in the process and despite a drop in form earlier this season and rumours of interest from both Manchester City and Manchester United, he will now continue at the Camp Nou for the next four seasons.

The new deal, which he will sign on Friday in the offices of the Camp Nou Stadium raises Rakitic's buyout clause to approximately $137 million making it very unlikely that anyone will attempt to buy him in the near future.

FC Barcelona's official tweet read:

IANS