Podcast Summary

The Rest Is Football

Episode: Ivan Rakitić: Playing With MSN & Scoring In The Champions League Final
Date: October 29, 2025
Host(s): Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards (main hosts, not present in the interview), Alex Aljo (interviewer, La Liga correspondent)
Guest: Ivan Rakitić

Overview

This episode is a special, in-depth interview with Ivan Rakitić, conducted by Alex Aljo in Madrid for the La Liga edition of "The Rest Is Football." The discussion explores Rakitić’s journey from Sevilla to Barcelona, his experiences at the heart of legendary teams—most notably during the “MSN” era—his thoughts on iconic matches like El Clásico and the Champions League final, and his perspectives on football’s evolving generations. Rakitić’s honesty shines through as he reflects on glory, regret, and the meaning of home.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Life and Beginnings in Spain

• Returning to Spain:
  • Rakitić feels Spain is his second home: “A lot of emotion. It’s by the way my home.” (04:00)
• Settling in Sevilla:
  • He quickly adapted, owing to similarities with Croatian culture. “People are really open, really happy. So it was quite easy to get in the right mood in Sevilla.” (04:15)
• Meeting His Wife:
  • A personal story: Met his wife Raquel on his very first night at the hotel in Sevilla—described affectionately as a “Hollywood story.” (04:51)
  • “We had to drink during seven months. A lot of coffee… Not easy. But for the important and big things, you have to work.” (05:19)

Barcelona: Pressure, Triumph, and MSN Magic

• Adapting to Barcelona’s Expectations:
  • "To explain the history of Barcelona in words, it’s impossible… You can just understand it when you’re really there.” (05:59)
• 2014/15 Historic Treble:
  • The turning point came after a difficult winter.
    • “In December and January some hard moments… sometimes it’s the best part of football. Everything can really quickly change.” (06:50)
    • “We did the perfect Champions League in this year. Winning the German champion, Italian champion, French champion... Man City...” (07:31)
• Midfield Chemistry:
  • With Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets: “It was blind understanding... really important for the team.” (07:55, 08:13)
• Manager Luis Enrique:
  • Praises his impact and ability to maximize the team’s potential. “He really needs time just to get the understanding of his players. Once he get this, I think it’s working amazing.” (08:38)
• Playing Behind Messi, Suárez, Neymar (MSN):
  • “Already, also bad passes are good passes… this attack, I think European football will never have again.” (09:40)
  • Regret at not winning more: “Normally, it could be much more. It’s a bit of shame for us we didn’t get even more titles.” (09:46)
  • Reflects on what could have been:
    • “Maybe we get a bit… bored of winning or don't be hungry at 100%. It's hard to say only one Champions League in six years, but it could be two or three quite easily, you know...” (11:07)

Leadership and Legends

• Lionel Messi:
  • Describes Messi as a “game changer” and the ultimate silent leader.
  • "He’s the guy who’s able to understand football by another way." (12:07)
  • “One small gesture of Leo, it means a lot for all of us.” (13:22)
• Luka Modrić:
  • Telepathic understanding, especially evident in the 2018 World Cup:
    • “Less is more. We don’t have to speak… It was crazy to play against England, Spain, or Italy or whatever and say, yeah, but here, we are better, you know…” (14:25)
  • “We are still a country with close to 4 million people and we have maybe one of the best midfielders in the history of football.” (14:32)

The Drama of El Clásico & European Glory

• El Clásico Memories:
  • Favorite: “The moment when I scored the goal in Bernabeu for the winning goal. I think we won 1-0… just to decide Clásico, I think it’s not bad.” (17:33)
  • The intensity: “We try to say every game is important… but Clásico is not the same. The whole world is behind that game.” (18:12)
  • Fine margins and impact: “It’s the big game. It’s more than only three points because… you can win a lot, but also you can lose a lot.” (18:46)
• Barcelona Domination:
  • On winning two Clásicos in four days: “Maybe the best” week of his career. (19:46)
  • Advice to current players: “Enjoy it, because the time passes so fast.” (20:42)
• Scoring in the Champions League Final (2015):
  • “When you try to hug the whole world in a moment, this second was this moment, this fourth minute in Berlin at that time… just to be proud of my career.” (21:16, 21:24)
  • The enduring pride: “These moments are for the whole life. So it’s only 10 years ago, but we will speak about that in 10 years, in 15 and 20 again.” (21:13)

New Generations and Football’s Evolution

• Current Barcelona Side under Hansi Flick:
  • “This amazing mix between German football and Barca Tiki Taka… they get really fast, this Hansi mentality… but still have this Spanish flair.” (21:50)
  • Young talents like Pedri and Lamine Yamal:
    • “I think [Pedri] is now the guy in the midfield in Europe. He’s the guy to beat.” (23:06)
  • The secret of La Masia:
    • “All these guys, they already trained in the same way, so the mentality was already clear… they already knew it, it was nothing new for them… so already they are ready. Mentally, they are ready.” (23:50)
• Advice for New Talents:
  • On Lamine Yamal: “He has to be Lamine. We don’t have to try to change Lamine to bring him the mentality of Puyol, of Sergio Busquets or Xavi… I think this is important.” (24:57)
• Real Madrid and Xabi Alonso:
  • Praises Xabi Alonso’s impact and smooth transition for young players. “Totally a different coach than Ancelotti was, but not better or weaker, just different… he’s doing amazing and hopefully that he can go on.” (26:14)

Life After Playing

• Post-retirement Focus:
  • Technical director at Hajduk Split, learning from former Barcelona player Goran Muciwic, studying sports management with UEFA. “Just to get the new steps a little bit on the other way… enjoying football on the other stage.” (27:15)
  • Missing football? “At the moment? I'm quite easy, playing a lot of padel... When I'm in the training session of my team, I don't feel that I want to go in. I enjoy to be now outside.” (27:52)
• On Returning to Spain:
  • Spain is still “my second home or my first home.” (28:44)
• Why He Returned to Sevilla:
  • “Because Sevilla is my heart, Sevilla is my club, Sevilla is my city, Sevilla is part of my family… the decision of a heart is more important than of the head.” (29:12, 29:40)

Final Reflections

• Advice to His Younger Self:
  • “It was the best decision… there are not right or wrong decisions. Every player has to take his own decisions… try to enjoy the moment. This is the most important part.” (30:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |-----------|---------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:36 | Ivan Rakitić | “Just cafe con leche.” (on his first words to his future wife) | | 05:59 | Ivan Rakitić | “To explain the history of Barcelona in words, it’s impossible.” | | 09:40 | Ivan Rakitić | “This attack, I think European football will never have again.” | | 11:07 | Ivan Rakitić | “Maybe we get a bit… bored of winning or don't be hungry at 100%.”| | 12:07 | Ivan Rakitić | “[Messi] is the guy who’s able to understand football by another way.” | | 13:22 | Ivan Rakitić | “One small gesture of Leo, it means a lot for all of us.” | | 14:25 | Ivan Rakitić | “Less is more. We don’t have to speak [with Luka Modrić]…” | | 17:33 | Ivan Rakitić | “I scored the goal in Bernabeu for the winning goal… just to decide Clásico, I think it’s not bad.” | | 21:24 | Ivan Rakitić | “When you try to hug the whole world in a moment… this second was this moment, this fourth minute in Berlin…” | | 23:06 | Ivan Rakitić | “[Pedri] is now the guy in the midfield in Europe. He’s the guy to beat.” | | 24:57 | Ivan Rakitić | “He has to be Lamine. We don’t have to try to change Lamine…” | | 29:40 | Ivan Rakitić | “The decision of a heart is more important than of the head.” | | 30:22 | Ivan Rakitić | “It was the best decision… Try to enjoy the moment.” |

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Return to Spain & Sevilla story: 03:33–05:49
• First season at Barcelona & Treble: 05:49–07:39
• Playing with Xavi, Iniesta, MSN: 07:39–10:16
• Feelings about titles & regrets: 10:16–11:45
• Lionel Messi as leader: 11:45–13:19
• Luka Modrić partnership: 14:10–15:50
• El Clásico emotions & moments: 17:23–20:42
• Scoring in UCL final: 20:42–21:45
• Current Barça under Flick, Pedri, La Masia: 21:45–24:49
• Advice to new generation: 24:49–26:07
• On Xabi Alonso at Madrid: 26:07–27:09
• Post-playing career: 27:11–29:06
• Sevilla connection & life views: 29:06–29:49
• Final advice to younger self: 30:11–30:56

Tone and Style

The conversation is warm, reflective, and honest—peppered with nostalgia, humor, and genuine insight. Rakitić’s humility and appreciation for his experiences come through, with a recurrent theme: savoring the moments, learning from both triumphs and missed chances, and valuing the bonds and memories football brings.