The Croatian midfielder insisted that the striker has turned over a new leaf and challenged former Camp Nou star Zlatan Ibrahimovic to kick the club out of Europe Ivan Rakitic has insisted that “polite” striker Luis Suarez will not bite anyone at Barcelona, despite his chequered history.
The Uruguayan is currently serving a four-month ban from competitive football after biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup this summer, though the bizarre incident did not stop Barca from spending €88 million to bring him to Camp Nou from Liverpool.
Rakitic, another new arrival under Luis Enrique’s regime, had only positive things to say about his Barca team-mate and said he is loving life in Catalunya alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Xavi.
“Suarez is very calm, polite and quiet,” the Croatia international told reporters. “He’s a great man and he said that any biting moments he has had in the past will never happen again.
“I came to Barcelona to enjoy my football, to work hard, to give my best, to help the team, to share the locker-room with some of the best players in the world.
“Every day I have smile on my face as I go to training and that is most important thing.”
Rakitic also lauded Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was on Barca’s books for two years but spent his second season on loan at AC Milan due to a falling out with Pep Guardiola, and the Croatian has challenged the Swede to knock his former club out of Europe after the teams were paired together in the group stage.
“It is a tough Champions League group but our aim is to win trophies so we have to be ready. Ajax and APOEL are okay teams,” the 26-year-old added.
“Ibrahimovic is maybe the best striker in the world – let him and PSG try to knock us out!”
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