Ivan Rakitic has made 299 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions and remains the only midfielder to score for the Catalan club in a European Cup final. At Camp Nou, his name is still cheered by fans.

Since 2011, he is fourth on the list of midfielders in LaLiga for goals (with 49), second only to Atletico Madrid's Koke in assists (with 55) and third for total passes (behind team-mate Sergio Busquets and Valencia's Dani Parejo, ​with 16,245).

But this has been a difficult season for the Croatian. Punished by Barca for his loyalty after rejecting an exit last summer, he has also been abused on social media, told to "get out of my club" under every single post of his (and also, sickeningly, his wife's).

Rakitic came under fire from fans online for daring to attend a fair in Seville the day after Barcelona's humiliating defeat at Anfield last season. But his trip to Andalusia was pre-planned and probably an ideal distraction after a a hurtful night in Liverpool.

The Croatian was targeted for his poor performance in that match and while he had disappointed, so too had many of his team-mates on the night. Barca did not lose 4-0 solely because of the midfielder.

In the summer, he was then slated for daring to say that Frenkie de Jong was not going to take his position in the team.

As it turned out, he was incorrect, but his exclusion was more political as he preferred to stay instead of considering a move to Paris Saint-Germain. In January, he also rejected a move to Juventus.

To his credit, Rakitic has not allowed himself to be hounded out of the club – not by the vile abuse from fans online and not by the bumbling board. But now is probably the right time to move on.

"As I always said, to be able to play at Barca is the perfect place," he said in an interview with Mundo Deportivo published on Monday. "What I want is to enjoy myself and help the team."

The Croatian's current deal is up next year and he added: "Let's hope I can see through my contract. If not, we will sit down, but now the most important thing is to work as hard as we can and finish the season in the best way possible.

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"After that we'll analyse everything, but my idea is to stay until the end of my contract."

Rakitic also admitted that he may have paid the price for deciding to stay, but claims nobody at Barca told him he was not in the club's plans.

"Maybe yes, maybe no," he said. "But I have always looked forward. If they had wanted me to go to another team, no matter where, I would have liked it if they had said it to me."

And he added: "I am not a sack of potatoes. I will decide my future. I want to be where I am valued. If it is here, delighted, and if not, it will be where I decide."

The midfielder complained earlier this season that he did not understand being frozen out when he had been an ever-present previously under Ernesto Valverde, but was brought back by the former coach when the team was struggling and has also featured a fair amount since the arrival of Quique Setien.

With Barca in the market for another midfielder this summer and Rakitic now 32 and slowing down, a move probably suits all parties. The midfielder is available for around €20million and former club Sevilla is one possible next destination.

"They have my number," he said.

Atletico Madrid and Juventus could also be interested, but the Croatian's choice would be to remain in Spain if possible.

When he does depart, though, he can leave with his head held high and deserves to be remembered as an important player and a great servant at Barcelona.