Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has heaped praise on Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

Rakitic left Sevilla in January for Al Shabab.

He told Marca: "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."