Ivan Rakitić on Real Madrid’s rebuild: “They have done well, step by step. Maybe Barça have gone too fast. Gavi & Pedri will be the future of Barça & Spain. But I think that help from us veterans would’ve been good for them. I’m sure kids like Bellingham & co greatly appreciate having Modric & Kroos

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1. The full quotes in the video from Rakitic’s interview with Marca

   >**Q: What is different about Barcelona and Real Madrid now, how do you judge their struggles?**

   >A: “It’s like when as a young boy you have a girlfriend and you don’t pay her much attention, but you don’t realize it until you lose her. Real Madrid have been able to do everything well, gradually, but Barcelona may have gone too fast. I’m convinced that Gavi and Pedri are going to be the future of the Barcelona and Spanish national teams, but I think that our help, as the old guys, would have been good for them.”

   >”I’m convinced that all those guys like Bellingham are very grateful for the daily learning they have with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.”

   >**Q: Do you think Real Madrid will dominate for the foreseeable future?**

   >A: “They have done the right things to have a solid team which can dominate for a few years. I speak with the utmost respect because they have been my rival for many, many years, but to see what Florentino Perez is achieving you have to tip your hat to him. They are getting what they want. There is a plan. Presidents don’t always get it right, but he got it right in his decisions, with the players, with the stadium and with everything around him. He has to be congratulated.”

   >**Q: Who will win LaLiga EA Sports?**

   >A: “Real Madrid, there is no doubt.”

   >**Q: What about the Champions League?**

   >A: “I’ve got more doubts about this… Barcelona.”