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What's the story?
Former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has revealed the player he thinks is the most underrated in the world at present.
In case you didn't know..
Barcelona registered an amazing victory against their La Liga rivals in the second leg of Copa Del Rey semifinals in the midweek followed by narrow victory, courtesy of a goal by Ivan Rakitic against the same opponent in La Liga on Sunday.
Los Blancos didn't win a single game out of four they played against the La Liga Champions this season. Barcelona leads the La Liga table by seven points behind second-placed Atletico Madrid.
Rakitic has been a regular starter for the Blaugrana since joining from Sevilla in 2014. the Croatian midfielder has scored 34 goals with the same number of assists in 253 appearances for the defending champions.
The heart of the matter
Mourinho explained why he thinks that the Croat is one of the most underrated players in the world and quoted:
He's one of the most underrated players in the world. Fantastic in all levels; he defends, he compensates for Messi, he runs and he's sensible with the ball at his feet."
The Special One was all praises for Ernesto Valverde's side after Barcelona defeated Real Madrid on Sunday and was quoted as saying:
They are much more solid than in other seasons. They know how to defend and be together.
Although they don't play the beautiful football they're used to, they're winning games and this is key to challenging the big teams in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Champions League.
What's next?
Barcelona will face Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou in a La Liga fixture on February 9 followed by the second leg clash of Round of 16 against Lyon in the Champions League next midweek.
Valverde's men have to defeat the French side to reach the quarter-finals as the first leg ended in a 0-0 tie.
