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Ivan Rakitic willing to risk catching COVID-19 for football to resume

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic says he would be willing to risk his own health in order for th...
Will O'Callaghan
Will O'Callaghan

17.16 30 Apr 2020


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Ivan Rakitic willing to risk c...

Ivan Rakitic willing to risk catching COVID-19 for football to resume

Will O'Callaghan
Will O'Callaghan

17.16 30 Apr 2020


Share this article


Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic says he would be willing to risk his own health in order for the LaLiga season to get back underway. 

Football has been suspended in Spain since mid March with Barcelona leading their title rivals Real Madrid by two points with 11 games remaining.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has suggesting this week that matches could resume in June and that they're hopeful of completing the campaign this summer.

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Rakitic insists he's aware of the risk of returning to play and train but says it's something he's willing to do.

"I want to play," the Croatian told Marca. "It is evident that we must try to return with the best sanitary guarantees but we must also know that they will never be 100 per cent."

 

Ivan Rakitic of FC Barcelona during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD at Camp Nou on February 2, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by DAX/ESPA/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA)

 

"But that same risk will be borne by all workers on their return to work. Supermarket employees also change in dressing rooms and have the same or more possibility of getting it as we do.

"They take that risk and I want to take it too. I think we have that debt and I'm sure if we asked the fans they would love for there to be football.

"Without a doubt and I say this from the awareness that the risk will be very small, but also because of the solidarity with those who have been playing for us from the first minute and that they will continue like this for many days.

"Socially we must take a step, to be able to entertain people with what they like, so that we all stop thinking about viruses and disease, so that we can return to joking around with our neighbour from the opposite team."


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