A title run? Rakitic will play in his homeland for the first time, he will meet another Croatian player in Hajduk Split

He has had a truly rich football career, but now it’s time to play in his homeland. Croatian giants Hajduk Split confirmed on Sunday morning that former Sevilla and Barcelona player Ivan Rakitic will join the team.

• Ivan Rakitic transfers to Hajduk Split
• The Croatian big club officially confirmed the news on Sunday morning
• The experienced midfielder will play at club level for the first time in his homeland

It’s a bit of a paradox, but Ivan Rakitic, as a Croatian international, has never played football in his homeland during his professional career.

In fact, the now thirty-six-year-old midfielder came through Basel’s academy in his youth, leaving the Swiss giant in 2007 to join Schalke. He won the domestic cup with the famous German side in 2010. In total, he played 135 games for Schalke, scoring 16 goals and adding 29 assists.

His performances in the Bundesliga earned him an interesting stint in Spain. Rakitic moved to Sevilla at the end of January 2011, where he played a total of 323 competitive games with 51 goals and 63 assists.

Not surprisingly, he was eventually chosen by Barcelona, where he spent about six years. With the Catalan giant, he won the Champions League, La Liga four times and the Copa del Rey four times.

Rakitic then returned to Sevilla, and most recently tried his hand in Saudi Arabia. And now, after almost nineteen years, he will finally play in his homeland. Croatian giants Hajduk Split officially confirmed his arrival on Sunday morning.

Rakitic to Hajduk Split

Rakitic will thus meet another Croatian international Ivan Perisic in the same team. “Hajduk is especially pleased to confirm that Ivan Rakitic will wear its jersey next season!” the club said in an official statement.

“One of the best Croatian footballers in history signed a contract with Hajduk before midnight until the end of this season with an option for another twelve months. Ivan will arrive in Split on Sunday and will be officially presented at a press conference starting at 19:30,” the Croatian title aspirant added.

Source: Hajduk Split, Transfermarkt, X