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'Monchi as good as buying 10 new players' - Barca star Rakitic hails in-demand director amid Roma talk

The Croatian playmaker has paid tribute to man heading for the exits at Sevilla and discussed the latest goings on at Camp Nou

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has saluted outgoing Sevilla director of football Monchi, saying his presence is “like buying 10 new players”.

The Croatia international spent three years with the highly-rated 48-year-old at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan prior to moving to Camp Nou.

He was impressed by him then and remains a loyal admirer of his talents now.

Monchi is being heavily linked with a post at Serie A outfit Roma, while admitting to also generating interest from the English Premier League, and Rakitic expects him to be successful wherever he ends up.