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What's the story?
According to the Spanish media outlet, Sport, Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic lost his temper when he was subbed off in the Copa del Rey final against Valencia.
In case you didn't know
Barcelona succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Valencia in the Copa Del Rey finals. Goals from Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo early in the first half gave Los Che a two-goal advantage which the Catalan giants failed to equalise throughout the match.
The late goal and heroics of Lionel Messi gave La Blaugrana a fighting chance in the last twenty minutes, but the Valencia defenders were composed enough to see through the tie.
Barcelona will end their campaign on a bitter note despite securing the LaLiga title weeks ago. They blew up a three-goal lead in the Champions League as Liverpool inflicted a crushing 4-0 defeat in the return leg of the semi-finals. The Copa del Rey defeat only added to their misery.
On the other hand, Ivan Rakitic has been slammed by the Blaugrana fans on social media due to his lacklustre displays. Despite being one of the most used players under Ernesto Valverde, there are rumours linking the Croatian midfielder with a move away from the Nou Camp.
The 31-year-old has made over 50 appearances for La Blaugrana in all competitions this season, racking up 5 goals and 7 assists. After enjoying five successful seasons at the Nou Camp, Rakitic's place in the starting line up might be in jeopardy after the arrival of Ajax's Frenkie De Jong.
The heart of the matter
Rakitic let his frustration known after he was subbed off for Carles Alena during the Copa del Rey final. On his way to the bench, the 31-year-old kicked a few water bottles.
The Croatian midfielder was obviously in a bad mood, as Barcelona were trailing for a major portion of the match. Rakitic's anger was clear as he left the pitch without looking at anybody else.
What's next?
Ivan Rakitic is set to resume his international duties amid rumours that it may well have been his last game for Barcelona.
