Rakitic: It didn't take anything special for me to decide to stay LaLiga Santander - Barcelona An interview with the Croatian midfielder

Last season's Champions League exit at the hands of Roma still pains Ivan Rakitic, but the midfielder is now focussed on making up for that defeat by winning another Champions League at Barcelona.

While he had the chance to leave for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, he decided to stay and to try to bring further success to the Camp Nou, a decision he explained in an interview with MARCA.

Catching up with the player at an event for the'Destiny 2: Forsaken video game, he touched on many topics, including the motivation generated by his fifth season at the club.

Does a guy as famous as Ivan Rakitic have time to play video games?

"There is not enough time, but when there are moments, like when the girls are sleeping or my wife is out, I can play this game that consumes you. It's hard to let go of the controller and everything! The truth is that it's enjoyable, although I do not have many free hours."

The game is called 'Destiny 2: The Forsaken'. Speaking of destiny, what do you think Barcelona's will be this season?

"I wish we could know and that it would involve all the trophies. But the beauty of football is that every three or four days you have a match. Now the tough stretch begins. We will try to do it in the best possible way. Lionel Messi already said in the presentation that we want to win everything, but the first thing is Anoeta this weekend, where we have a complicated game."

Continuing on destiny, yours could've been at PSG. How did you experience the moments of doubt?

"I never saw myself leaving. There were several topics that we talked about. I took those days to reflect a little bit on everything and sincerely I realised where I was. It did not take anything special, I saw that I am a lucky. I can play at Barcelona, I defend this badge and that's the biggest thing there is. Also, my wife and my daughters are very happy in Barcelona. Things are going very well and there is no other place where you want to be. It has been easy as I feel the respect of my teammates, the coaches, the fans and the president and that is the best thing for a footballer."

Ernesto Valverde defended you at all costs. What do you give the coaches?

"I'm really grateful for the coach's words and for the conversations I had with him. The way he has behaved with me has been really good and I appreciate it all. I always try to give my best and I want to be involved all the time, not missing any training sessions and being able to give my all for my teammates. "

Did you nominate yourself as a captain to replace Andres Iniesta and Javier Mascherano?

"I saw it as normal. I do not think it will change much if I'm a captain or not. I am who I am regardless of that topic. Nor did I change when I was captain at Sevilla. I live football 100 percent and I always try to support my teammates."

What do you think about playing a league match in the United States?

"If they do decide to go over there then we'll go feeling the pride of representing Barcelona. Also, it'd be at Miami, a stadium we know. If we don't go then we avoid a long journey. The important thing is that the best thing for everyone is done, for the players, the clubs and the fans. The decisions should be made together."

Luis Suarez said, in relation to the disaster in Rome last year, that it might have been better to rotate the squad more. Do you share his opinion?

"Now that several months have passed you can say that we might have done things differently. People get smarter and analyse things. It's good for us to learn from that and to not go through something like that again. Of course there were things we could have done better."

That Champions League was won by Real Madrid, where your Croatia teammate Luka Modric plays. He was the best player of the year according to UEFA and he is one of the nominees for The Best award. Is it his year?

"If there is an individual prize that Lionel Messi can't win, then there's no doubt that this season it should go to Luka Modric. It wouldn't surprise me if he were to win with many more votes. This has been his year and I am really happy for him. If Messi isn't the best, then it has to be Modric."