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Ivan Rakitic wants Barcelona stay amid Manchester United, Inter Milan speculation

Ivan Rakitic

Ivan Rakitic insists he wants to stay at Barcelona.

The Croatia midfielder intends to see out the remaining three years on his contract amid speculation there is interest from Manchester United and Inter Milan.

But Rakitic suggested his future is out of his hands, following reports in Spain earlier this year that Rakitic maybe for sale as the La Liga champions look to refresh their team.

"I don't want to be anywhere else," he told reporters after Barca retained their domestic title at the weekend.

"I hope the club, the president, the coach and the fans see this the same way I do. I hope they tell me that I'll stay here for another three years.

Manchester United's Juan Mata
Image: Juan Mata has held talks over a free transfer to Barcelona this summer, Sky Sports News understands

"I'd like to be able to point to the three more years on my contract and to say I'll be here three more years. Anything can happen in football, but I am very calm about it all."

Sky Sports News reported last month that Barca had held talks with Manchester United's Juan Mata over a summer switch, seeing him as an enticing free transfer.

Barcelona are long-term admirers of Mata and are looking to pick up free transfers where they can, having surprised many with the signing of Kevin-Prince Boateng in January.

The Catalans are understood to see this as a way of keeping funds free for more ambitious targets this summer such as the highly-rated Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, whom they have already agreed a deal for, and potentially his Ajax team-mate Matthijs de Ligt.

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