Newly-signed Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic has disclosed that Kevin-Prince Boateng was one of his closest friends at Barcelona despite his short spell with club but he was never close with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.
Boateng spent six months with the Blaugrana after joining on loan from US Sassuolo in 2019.
The Ghanaian did not enjoy much playing time at the club but was said to be vibrant in the dressing room.
Notwithstanding his short spell at the club, the former AC Milan ace struck up a strong friendship with Ivan Rakitic as both players speak fluent English.
Rakitic, who has also left the Catalan giants to join Sevilla, revealed he was close to Boateng much more than Messi and Suarez despite spending six years with the pair at the club.
"I've said my side,” Rakitic told El Desmarque. “My relationship with them was never one of close friends. I believe that's hard in a group of 23 or 24 players.
“My closest friends were Andres Iniesta, [Marc-Andre] ter Stegen, [Kevin-Prince] Boateng and Junior Firpo last season.
“But I respect them both. They were my team-mates for six years and are very important players. I've always got on incredibly well and have the utmost respect for them.
“During the coronavirus lockdown, we've all been very close together, almost neighbours. I'm very thankful for how they've treated me over the years."