Rakitic 'would open the door right now' for Neymar at Barcelona
Ivan Rakitic would welcome Neymar back to Barcelona with open arms if rumours he is seeking a return to Catalonia are proven correct.
According to a series of reports from Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Neymar is considering leaving Paris Saint-Germain despite joining the Ligue 1 outfit for a world-record €222 million just last summer. The Brazilian superstar apparently regrets making the exorbitant switch and could have played his last game for the club after undergoing surgery on his foot.
Related: Valverde dismisses talk of Neymar returning to Barcelona
"He has not told me anything, but if it's up to me, I would open the door right now," Rakitic told Marca after Saturday's 2-0 win at Malaga. "Not only because of the relationship I have with him, but because of the type of player he is.
"I would always put Ney on my team."
Neymar scored 19 goals in 20 Ligue 1 appearances and netted six times in seven Champions League outings before he succumbed to injury. His signing was lauded as the arrival of PSG as a true continental force but, with Neymar sidelined in the second leg, the capital club bowed out of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday courtesy of a 5-2 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid.
Earlier this week, international colleague Gabriel Jesus stated his belief Neymar will be fit for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Paris Saint-Germain is waiting a further five weeks before it makes a prediction on when the forward can return to action, shrouding his availability for Brazil's June 17 opener against Switzerland in doubt.
"He is a fighter and everything is going to be fine," said Jesus.