Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic admits he treasures the time he had with Sevilla.

Rakitic made the move to LaLiga from Schalke.

He recalled to Universo Valdano, "I was finishing my contract with Schalke and I wanted to experience something new, and that opportunity came from Sevilla.

"I have to thank Victor Orta and Monchi so much that they were able to convey to me what Seville was all about.

"It's an incredibly special city in which I was lucky enough to meet my wife and her family, and you can't perform if you aren't comfortable in a country, but the people there made me feel loved."