Neo-desert son Ivan Rakitic expects further openings: “I surprised myself with the Saudi transfer”

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I dare say you have taken all your fans by surprise with this transfer to Saudi Arabia.
Ivan Rakitic: (Laughs.) Me too… I didn’t plan this step. But sometimes that’s how it goes in a career. When I returned to Seville the idea was clear: I would play my last professional matches here and stop here at some point. Sometimes things happen that you can’t understand 100 percent.

Which?
I had an incredible third year in Seville with the Europa League title. But the situation in the club was not the best. And I didn’t get along 100 percent with the new coach Quique Sánchez Flores. I was just thinking about what was best for the club and for me when this request came from Saudi Arabia. It wasn’t the first, but I’d never looked at it closely before. This time the moment was right. Within one day we decided to take this step.

One day? Real?
When I say it was 24 hours, I’m actually lying. It was less…

Why were you able to say yes so quickly?
First, Al-Shabab wanted a yes or no the next day. You would have to keep looking if I didn’t accept the offer. Secondly, the transfer window is closed.

What was the crucial element? The coach you no longer liked?
At least as much as the financial situation within the club. I could certainly help a little by leaving. I had a, shall we say, “difficult” contract for the club. That’s how it all came together. My alternative was to quit football. But I’m too young for that. Physically and mentally I am still completely ready. So much so that I can still enjoy professional football.

But your contract would have ended in six months anyway.
Yes. And I had discussed with President José Castro Carmona, who for me is much more than just president, that this could last until after the summer. Seville is close to my heart. I don’t want to do anything that isn’t good for the club. So I paved the way for the club to sign other players. For me, Sevilla always came first and then the player Rakitic.

But have you received your wages?
Yes. Until the day I signed with Al-Shabab. I gave up everything else I was entitled to.

It is easy when you see the salaries paid in Saudi Arabia. What do you earn? Rumor has it it’s $15 million.
People laughed at Cristiano Ronaldo when he went there. My first few days completely surprised me. There’s a lot of talent there. A very good coach in Vitor Pereira, who once coached Porto and could also coach top clubs in Europe. I understand that people only talk about money and complain about the competition. But the job is really well done. I want to do my part to grow football in Saudi Arabia. Many people will be surprised. In any case, I am happy and proud to be here. Because the center of the sports world in the future will be Saudi Arabia.

Stop! First, you didn’t answer the question about salary. So?
No player signing here can complain about the money. But that wasn’t a priority for me. I’ll be 36 next month. I’ve had a great career and made good money over the years. I took this step at my age so that I could continue to enjoy football and help this league and the club move forward. The money and the contract are secondary. But of course they will get there.

The first top stars would have had enough of the desert sand after just six months. Benzema, Firmino, Jota. Jordan Henderson even canceled his mega contract and went back to Europe, to Ajax. Aren’t you afraid something similar will happen to you?
So football is right. I agree with Cristiano Ronaldo, who said that the league is perhaps even better than the French Ligue 1. I have seen that the local footballers are very willing to learn. With the European stars they have the best possible teachers. That is why progress is happening very quickly. In Europe that would take years. Here it is days, weeks or at most months. But I can only speak for myself. I don’t know what the players mentioned are thinking.

Are you a born son of the desert?
(Laughs.) I’m used to the heat in Seville. It should get quite warm here in the summer…

You said that Saudi Arabia would be the center of the sports world. How did you come up with this theory?
The enthusiasm for sports here is enormous! An example: in May, the biggest boxing match in sports history will take place here, Tyson Fury against Oleksandr Usyk, with all six heavyweight titles at stake for the first time. The people here want to show the world what Saudi Arabia really is. And they have the plans and the money to do it impressively.

But the human rights situation is catastrophic. Homosexuality, for example, is prohibited by law. Don’t you have a problem with that?
During the many days in the hotel I had a lot of time and read a lot about Prince Bin Salman’s Vision 2030, in which he sees the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa coming together and with which he wants to show the whole world what Saudi Arabia can do offer. In any case, the first steps towards opening have been taken. A lot has happened since I was first here with Barcelona for the Spanish Super Cup six years ago.

So you are convinced that the country will open up further.
In each case! The Saudis want to show the world what a beautiful country they have and how open they have become. You will be pleasantly surprised by this country.

You are home alone at the moment. Is your family following this example?
Yes. I found a house. It is now being set up and I am here preparing everything. The family also has to travel next week.

What did your wife say about the desert plans when she found out? After all, Raquel, originally from Seville, was also the driving force behind her return to Seville…
I am lucky that I have found a woman who suits me perfectly and who always supports me. She wanted to stay in Seville. But she quickly understood. My two daughters, aged seven and ten, are also happy and looking forward to this new phase.

Since last year you have been selling your own wine. You are not allowed to sell it in Saudi Arabia. There is still a strict alcohol ban there. For Hinz and Kunz. And also for beloved football stars.
(Laughs.) Let’s wait for the next opening step… At the moment this is not possible. There is only one small alcohol shop in the embassy area. But only diplomats are allowed to shop there. There is only non-alcoholic wine in the supermarket. Zero point zero. Does not matter. I’m there to play football. Here I am in water mode. And I look forward to a nice glass of wine when I’m in Croatia, Spain or Switzerland.

As a wine lover, don’t you miss this?
Sure, that would be nice. But you have to respect that. The longing for the holidays is then even greater.

You signed for a year and a half. Is there already a plan for the time afterwards?
I certainly don’t want to play frantically until I’m forty. I studied sports management in collaboration with UEFA. I am getting my coaching license from the Croatian association. I had something planned with Harvard University, but it had to be postponed because of the move to the desert. I definitely want to stay in the football world. Football management or marketing are interesting fields for me.

So a return to FC Basel is no longer an issue?
I have no contact with David Degen. Every now and then with Marco Streller. But that was never concrete. But I still have contact with Bernhard Heusler as a colleague. But as Saudi Arabia taught me: never say no. To nothing, never!

So it’s possible that you’ll continue playing at 38?
Maybe. As long as I can help on the field. All in due time. I want to recognize the moment when the time has come. And I want to be ready for life afterwards.

But you will return safely to Seville.
Clearly. Seville is the center of my life. And it will remain that way.

But now you’re just a fan and you’re happy to see that Sevilla FC has won twice recently and is currently out of the worst of the relegation mess.
Of course, because I am in close contact with President Carmona. I also maintain contact with players. Because I love Sevilla FC, I want to know exactly what is going on.

Also with Djibril Sow?
Clearly. It was his birthday recently. We then spoke on the phone. I’m happy for him that he’s playing regularly again. He’s a good boy, a great character. I think Murat Yakin knows exactly what he has in him. He can be important to the team. He belongs in the European Championship selection, where I will support him.

How good is Al Shabab FC?
Not so good at the moment. We tithe. That’s why the coach was changed.

And it seems things are going better for Vito Pereira. On Friday there was the sixth championship victory at the restart after the Asian Cup. A 1-0 against Damac. And the goalscorer…
Okay, yes. That was me… I’m really proud of it and I’m very happy that I helped the team so well in the first game that we were able to get three points. Especially because it’s not that easy for me when everything is new. Country, language, mentality, teammates. Now it’s time to keep working hard. The best is still ahead of us.

Source : Blick