Rakitic returns to Barcelona with Achilles injury

Ivan Rakitic has left the Croatia squad to return to Barcelona with an Achilles injury.

The midfielder had been called up by head coach Zlatko Dalic for Saturday’s final Euro 2020 qualifying match against Slovakia, in which a draw will be enough for the World Cup finalists to progress from Group E.

Croatia then meet Georgia in a friendly match next week.

However, Rakitic has gone back to Catalonia due to a heel problem and has not been named in the Barca squad for a charity game against Cartagena, the club confirmed on Tuesday.

He told Novi List in his homeland: “I’m afraid I cannot help the team, but I’m convinced my team-mates will have success without me.”

[INJURY NEWS] | @ivanrakitic returns from international duty due to an Achilles problem and is out of the friendly game against Cartagena.

 https://t.co/cdZYlG2TbE pic.twitter.com/kq0Ze9Uy5W

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 12, 2019

The 31-year-old has struggled for regular football this season, starting just once in LaLiga for Ernesto Valverde’s side.

The former Sevilla star has been linked with a possible January move, with Juventus, Inter and AC Milan among the clubs said to be interested.