Al Shabab midfielder Ivan Rakitic has praised Real Madrid for their team building.

Rakitic, formerly of Barcelona, left Sevilla in January for Al Shabab.

He told Marca: “Real Madrid have done everything well, little by little. Modric and Kroos are still there leading the team. Maybe Barcelona have gone too fast.

“I'm convinced Gavi and Pedri are going to be the future of Barcelona and Spanish football, but I think that help from us – the old people, as they have called us – would have been good for them.

"I'm convinced that all those kids like Bellingham and company greatly appreciate the daily learning they have with Luka and Toni."