Ivan Rakitic has blasted suggestions he is set to leave Barcelona - amid reports he is set for a shock £43million switch to Inter Milan.
The Croatian international has spent five years at Camp Nou, winning four La Liga titles and the 2015 Champions League, having joined from Sevilla in 2014.
But with Frenkie de Jong set to arrive for £75million from Ajax this summer, and the Catalans also preparing to add teammate Matthijs de Ligt in another big-money move, Barca must also bring in funds.
And Rakitic is one player who continues to be linked with a move, notably to Inter as they look to build a side capable of challenging eight-in-a-row Italian champions Juventus next term.
Barcelona's major problem in trying to sign 'transfer target Andy Robertson'
But the 31-year-old insists he has no intention of leaving Camp Nou this summer, and has taken aim at one Spanish newspaper over their declaration that his brother, Dejan, had refused to rule out a summer move to San Siro.
Angry Rakitic took to Instagram with a screenshot of the story and a strong message.
He wrote: "Let's see if you can stop making things up, I would appreciate it.
"I'm only focused on FC Barcelona, staying here for many years and winning the double.
"As a side note, my agent is called Arturo Canales.”
Rakitic has been an integral player for Ernesto Valverde in the last two years, and has made 51 appearances so far this term - on the back of his role in his country’s run to last summer’s World Cup final.
Valverde, under-fire after the Champions League collapse against Liverpool , insists he still has the backing of club president Josep Bartomeu.
“I feel strong, I’m ok and I’m looking forward to taking a step forward, I’m not going to hide behind a wall,” Valverde told a news conference on Saturday.
“I’ve spoken to the president and I have always felt supported by him and he has given me his absolute backing. When something like this happens it seems like everything is falling apart but we know what this world is like.
“Everyone thinks you should burn everything to the ground at moments like this but you have to put things back in their place.”
