Barcelona insist Ivan Rakitic was informed at the beginning of this month that he was not for sale.

Sport says Barcelona told Rakitic at the start of May that they were not negotiating his sale with anyone and that no offers had arrived for him in recent months.

Rakitic came out last night and criticised the club for not being straight with him about his future.

So it's surprising because Barca met with him and his agent to say they weren't negotiating his transfer out.

Rakitic said: "I would have liked it, of course, that the president or (sports director Eric) Abidal said 'Rakitic is staying'."