Ivan Rakitic Reflects on Career Regrets

Turning Down Ronaldo: A Major Regret

Hajduk Split’s football director Ivan Rakitic has openly acknowledged that declining an opportunity to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo remains his greatest career regret.

The former midfielder, known for his tenure with prestigious clubs such as Barcelona and Sevilla, recently retired from professional football last summer. Following his retirement, Rakitic took on the role of football director at Hajduk Split.

A Missed Opportunity

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Rakitic reflected on a significant moment in his career: “In 2019, I received calls from Cristiano Ronaldo, who expressed interest in having me join Juventus. If I am being truthful, that stands as my largest regret. I would have relished the chance to play in Italy.”

At 37, Rakitic has enjoyed an illustrious career, featuring in over 300 matches for both Barcelona and Sevilla. Additionally, he has represented Croatia on 106 occasions.