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#9 Ivan Rakitic
Ivan Rakitic may be on his way out at Barcelona and currently spends a significant amount of his time on the bench but his first season at the club painted a very different picture.
The former Sevilla captain was bought by Barcelona for a fee of €18 million to rejuvenate an aging midfield, and the Croatian did just that. He made his official La Liga debut against Elche and made an immediate impact with an assist in the second half.
Rakitic's tenacity and work rate perfectly complemented the silk of Iniesta and Busquets, and his knack of scoring goals from the midfield made him a powerful asset to have. Rakitic also scored the opening in the Champions League final against Juventus in 2015. Barcelona won the game 3-1 and completed yet another incredible treble.
The next few years saw Rakitic adapt to a more defensive role in the midfield, and he often found himself playing as the lone defensive midfielder for the team. With the emergence of Frenkie de Jong and Arthur, Rakitic has found playing time hard to come by and may leave the club in the upcoming transfer window.
The Croatian's impact at the club may have diminished in the recent past but he has undeniably been an integral part of the club for the latter half of the decade. Rakitic may not be the most noticeable player on the pitch, but Barcelona will be grateful for his efforts over the past five years.
