Rakitic criticized the way Barcelona dealt with him.

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has criticized the Catalan club's approach to it recently and sought to force him to leave its ranks last year.

"I understand the situation, but I am not just a bag of potatoes that you can behave as you wish," Rakitic, 32, said in remarks quoted by local newspaper Mundo Deportivo, adding: "I want to be in a place where I feel welcome and respected." If this is available here, I will be happy that, and if this is available elsewhere, it will be me who decides where to go, not someone else. Rakitic confirmed that he refused to move to Paris Saint-Germain, the French Champions League last year, as part of a deal to return the Brazilian Neymar to Barcelona.

The Croatian player said. Last year was the worst year of my six years here and felt upset with the way they treated me. I was very surprised and could not believe what was happening. The results weren't the best and I didn't play much and that's why I feel offended. "I faced a strange atmosphere in the first half of the season and the situation was completely uncomfortable and strange for me, but I hope to continue until the end of the last year of my decade.