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Inter Milan have opened negotiations with FC Barcelona to acquire midfielder Ivan Rakitic in the summer.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, The Nerazzurri have submitted a bid worth €35 million to bring the Croatian midfielder to the Giuseppe Meazza in the summer.
This bid is less than the €45 million Barcelona are looking for, but there could be room to negotiate as Inter CEO Beppe Marotta and Director of Sport Piero Ausilio continue to negotiate with Josep Maria Bartomeu and Eric Abidal.
GdS - #Inter are in advanced talks with #Barcelona for Ivan #Rakitic.
— Serpents of Madonnina (@SerpentsOfInter) February 20, 2019
The #Nerazzurri have offered €35m while #Barca are currently asking for €45m. both parties seem confident a deal can be agreed, perhaps at €40m.#Rakitic has ‘chosen’ #Inter for next season. ⚫️ pic.twitter.com/ahDYYo33jS
It is believed that a deal of around €40 million could be accepted, however, Paris Saint-Germain is rumored to be in the mix to get Rakitic as well and could come in with a higher offer.
Rakitic’s current contract runs through 2021 and is valued at around €5.5 million per year. Gazzetta said the Nerazzurri are willing to offer Rakitic a three-year deal.
The Croatian international has made 102 appearances for the national team, scoring 15 goals in that span.
On the club level, Rakitic started his career at FC Basel. In 2007, he moved to FC Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga. After four seasons in Germany, he was sold to Sevilla in 2011. In 2014, he went to FC Barcelona for €18 million.
So far this season, Rakitic has made 36 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals to go along with six assists – including one against Inter Milan in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.
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