Ronaldo leaving Madrid would make Barca star Rakitic happy
Ivan Rakitic would be "happy" if Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Real Madrid before the 2018-19 La Liga season.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ziUPFb3qyAU2ekzC7ZAxhD.jpg)
Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid would make Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic happy.
Ronaldo cast doubt on his future in Madrid with his comments after they won a third successive Champions League title by beating Liverpool 3-1 last month.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has since admitted he timed his remarks poorly, but it remains to be seen whether he will stay at the Santiago Bernabeu for 2018-19.
Should Ronaldo decide to move on, Rakitic suggested it would be good for La Liga and Copa del Rey champions Barca.
"I find it hard to believe that he'd go," the Croatia international told Marca.
"But, things change quickly in football. And if he does go, I'm not going to lie, I'd be happy."
Zinedine Zidane will not be returning to Madrid next season, having resigned just five days after their Champions League triumph.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Rakitic was not shocked by Zidane's decision and commended him on an impressive job at Los Blancos.
"At first, it didn't surprise me," he said. "But he's chosen his time [to step down] and you've got to take your hat off to him.
"The level he's taken Madrid to is very impressive, something that few would have managed."
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack