Sevilla’s sporting and economic situation is about to see one of the team’s legends leave the club. Ivan Rakitic, who had lost prominence in the lineups since Quique Sanchez Flores’ arrival, is negotiating his departure to Al-Shabab Club in Saudi Arabia.The 35-year-old Croatian midfielder, who was in his second spell with Los Nervionenses since returning in 2020, has bid farewell to some club employees, given the proximity of the agreement to move to the Saudi Pro League, to the club where former Sevilla player Ever Banega played and where former Atletico Madrid player Yannick Carrasco currently plays. The transfer window in Saudi Arabia closes one day before Europe, on 30 January.##NAJAVA_MECA_7828770##Since Quique’s arrival, Rakitic had been a substitute in several matches, even not playing a single minute in Girona’s thrashing at Montilivi. With Sevilla’s previous two coaches, Jose Luis Mendilibar and Diego Alonso, he had regularly been in the starting lineups. Beyond losing a player of Rakitic’s stature and his history with the club, Victor Orta’s sports management would free up one of the highest wages on the squad and could reduce the squad’s high average age.Rakitic has been one of the players most affected by Sevilla’s situation this season. He was distraught after the 0-3 league defeat at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan against Getafe, which led to the dismissal of Uruguayan coach Diego Alonso, the second coach of the season.”It’s the toughest, saddest, and most complicated moment of my entire career.” 🚨🇭🇷 Ivan Rakitić (35) is leaving Sevilla! He’s now one step away from joining Saudi side Al-Shabab, reports @relevo. pic.twitter.com/NOZIQZXXsy— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 27, 2024 Sevilla, thus, remains one of the protagonists in the January transfer window without major movements. The loans of Hannibal Mejbri from Manchester United and Lucien Agoume from Inter, plus the promotion to the first team of Isaac Romero complete, for now, the list of arrivals.Rakitic returned to Sevilla in 2020 after spending six seasons at Barcelona and was completing his eighth season at Nervion. Previously, since 2010 when he arrived from German club Schalke 04, he had completed another four seasons. His Sevilla trophy cabinet includes two Europa League titles (2013/14 and 2022/23).
