For a player to make the step up from being ever so slightly under
the radar to being considered world class can happen in a few ways. They can have a season spent in the very best
of form. They can impose themselves on a
competition. Or they can come up with a
defining moment of genius. For Ivan
Rakitic this contains all three:
If there’s a finer example of a backheeled chapeu (which I’m reliably
informed is what they’re called) then it’s not easy found on Youtube. Among the many, many amazing things Rakitic is
up to in that clip it’s that by the time the ball has left his boot on the
backheel he’s already moving to go past Pepe, certain that the defender has
been beaten. The touch he takes on the
run to leave it perfectly in his path isn’t bad either. To do all that and unleash the perfect pass into
Carlos Bacca’s path takes supernatural composure. To do it at 1-1 against a flying Real Madrid
side is almost beyond belief.
It’s been one of those years for Ivan. 12 goals and 10 assists only tell half the
story of his importance to a Sevilla team rapidly becoming the fourth best in
Spain (Bilbao fans will disagree with this).
Prior to this season he’s been criminally under the radar, even within
his own club. 2013-14 has been his
breakthrough album. Before the season
started £3 million would have apparently been enough to sign him. Now his value must be ten times that.
Part of his importance to his team is in his adaptability. He can and has filled any position in
midfield, although enjoys more influence when he plays central. Although his most common position for Sevilla
this season has been behind the striker his transfer value and probably long
term future lies in his ability to operate as a deep lying playmaker. With the current desire to have sitting
midfielders be able to dictate play with their passing putting these players at
a premium if he does move he’ll not be short of suitors.
Rumours of him ending up at Real Madrid are hopefully based on the
fact they’ve quite often not been shy about signing up players good enough to
hurt them. Given that playing for the
national team his performance in tandem with Spain’s second best Croatian midfielder
Luka Modric hasn’t always been successful it surely doesn’t make sense to
recreate it at club level. Outside of Los
Blancos Rakitic would make sense for almost every other elite team on the
planet. Just in the Premier League he
would walk into any of the Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd or Tottenham teams. And he’d be at least as good as anyone at Man
City or Arsenal.
Not that it’s a given he’ll be leaving Sevilla. Even after being offered around at the start
of this season its clear Sevilla realise what they have now. He’s become far and away their most important
player. His wife and family are apparently
very happy where they are. It’s an
exciting time for the club generally, they’re two games away from a Europa
League final and hanging around for a possible crack at the Champions League
would be apt. What’s clear is that if he
does leave that this time he won’t be undervalued.
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