SEVILLE, Spain: Ivan Rakitic is the latest soccer player to leave Europe for Saudi Arabia, moving from Spanish club Sevilla to Al-Shabab.
Sevilla announced the deal on Tuesday, ending the Croatian’s stint with the club after 323 appearances over two separate periods.
Financial details of the move were not immediately available.
The 35-year-old Rakitic played for Sevilla from 2011-14 before being sold to Barcelona, where the midfielder stayed until returning in 2020.
Rakitic is the player with the second most official appearances in the current Sevilla squad, after Jesús Navas. He is the international player with the most appearances for the club, and the only one to have surpassed the 300-game mark.
Rakitic helped Sevilla win two Europa League titles, in 2014 and 2023.
“Everyone at the club would like to thank Ivan Rakitic, one of the most decorated and loved players in our history, for all his effort and dedication over the years, and wish him every success in the future,” the club said in a statement.
Sevilla are struggling this season and sit just outside the relegation zone in the Spanish league. They have only one win in their last 16 league games and are coming off elimination in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.
The club’s next match is at Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league on Monday.
Belgium international Yannick Carrasco, a former Atletico Madrid midfielder, joined Al-Shabab last year.
Many top players have left Europe for lucrative deals with Saudi clubs, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema.
Rakitic ends second stint with Spanish club Sevilla to join Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia
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Rakitic ends second stint with Spanish club Sevilla to join Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia
- The 35-year-old Rakitic played for Sevilla from 2011-14 before being sold to Barcelona
- He helped Sevilla win two Europa League titles, in 2014 and 2023
Saudi Arabia edge Kyrgyzstan 1-0 in AFC U23 Asian Cup opener
- Al-Nassr’s Rakan Al-Ghamdi struck in the 88th minute as 2022 champions Saudi Arabia got off to a winning start
JEDDAH: Rakan Al-Ghamdi struck late as Saudi Arabia edged a plucky Kyrgyzstan 1-0 in their AFC U23 Asian Cup Group A opener on Tuesday.
Debutants Kyrgyzstan, reduced to 10 men in the 34th minute, looked on course for a point after goalkeeper Kurmanbek Nurlanbekov had saved Musab Al-Juwayr’s penalty but Al-Nassr’s Al-Ghamdi struck in the 88th minute as 2022 champions Saudi Arabia got off to a winning start.
Both sides went on the offensive from the start with Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Radif sending his effort from outside the box high as early as the second minute, while Beknaz Almazbekov had his shot from distance blocked two minutes later.
The hosts began to assert their dominance before suffering a setback in the 13th minute when captain Abdullah Radif was subbed off due to injury with Majed Abdullah taking his place.
However, his absence failed to deter the 2022 champions’ resolve as they almost took the lead in the 15th minute after Abdullah pounced on a stray pass from Anton Polev, only to see his low drive from inside the box saved by Nurlanbekov.
The Central Asian side’s exuberance suffered a dent in the 34th minute when Arsen Sharshenbekov received his marching orders for stamping Abdulaziz Al-Elewai’s ankle, following a VAR review.
Saudi Arabia, however, failed to trouble Nurlanbekov despite the numerical advantage with Kyrgyzstan still very much in the game going into the break.
Nurlanbekov continued to frustrate Saudi Arabia in the second half with the FC Dordoi Bishkek keeper foiling Faris Al-Ghamdi from distance in the 48th minute.
Saudi Arabia almost found the opener just after the hour mark when Yaseen Al-Zubaidi and Abdulaziz Al-Elewai exchanged passes with the latter breaking into the box, only to see his shot from a difficult angle closed down by Nurlanbekov.
Spurred on by their passionate home support, Saudi Arabia’s pressure earned them a penalty in the 74th minute after Arslan Bekberdinov’s handball but Nurlanbekov judged correctly to deny Al-Juwayr from the spot with his outstretched right-handed save.
Saudi Arabia finally found a way through in the 88th minute after Al-Juwayr’s clever pass found Al-Ghamdi, who rifled his shot past Nurlanbekov to seal the victory.
Saudi Arabia will meet Jordan on Friday while Kyrgyzstan will aim to bounce back against Vietnam.
