Why Ivan Rakitic Will Be the Best Under-the-Radar Signing in Europe

When Ivan Rakitic decanted from Andalusia to pitch up at Barcelona, the pictures from his press conference must've hit Sevilla's fervent fanbase like a freight train.

It's a sad fact of footballing life nowadays that only the top two or three sides in each league have the funds to be able to cherry pick the best talent and Rakitic, at just 26 years of age and in his footballing prime, certainly falls into that bracket.

Captain supreme and a main part of Sevilla's drive to eventual Europa League glory, Barca virtually stole him from his employers at a knockdown £14 million, per Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail.

To put the fee into some sort of perspective, per Alex Crook of the Daily Mirror, Southampton paid Hull City £12 million for Shane Long in the same window, a player who has scored only four goals in his six months at the club.

The contrast between the two players couldn't be more marked yet only £2 million separates them in transfer terms. Barca have bagged themselves something close to one of the bargains of the century. Yes, Rakitic is that good.

Courted by Real Madrid too, Rakitic had no hesitation in joining their arch rivals:

"

When [Sporting director Andoni] Zubizarreta called me I said "yes" as quickly as I did on my wedding day.

I can play as defensive midfielder. At every position, you need to understand what the coach wants. I'll try to do the best I can.

I already talked a bit with Luis Enrique while I was at the World Cup. He's my boss now and it was important to hear from him.

"

With both Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano in-situ as the holding midfielder, Rakitic's role will be more dynamic and penetrative in the attacking third where he will link with Andres Iniesta and supply the bullets to the front three.

If his start in Blaugrana is anything to go by, then we are in for a treat.

Per WhoScored.com, a 93.4 percent pass accuracy so far this season is up with the very best. Busquets, who is renowned for rarely wasting a pass, is only marginally more accurate at 94 percent (via WhoScored).

A boundless energy throughout, Rakitic is evidently more mobile than the player whom he replaced, Cesc Fabregas. Indeed, it could even be said that Fabregas is pedestrian by comparison.

Certainly, from the point of view of involvement in each match, there is almost no comparison. Rakitic made 118 touches against Villarreal per WhoScored. He was bettered only by Dani Alves and Jordi Alba, both of whom reined down incessant crosses against the Yellow Submarine.

The Croat was the conduit through which most of Barca's play was channelled.

Compare that to just 54 touches for Fabregas, per WhoScored, in the game against Everton over the same weekend. The Catalan's lower numbers are indicative of his time at Barca and perhaps one of the reasons he wasn't ever able to dislodge Xavi Hernandez for a longer period.

Sevilla's financial difficulties are well documented and the same ensured that Alberto Moreno was also moved onto Liverpool this summer for way under his true market value, per Alan Nixon of the Daily Mirror. Vaishali Bhardwaj of Metro also alludes to the Andalusians' money troubles.

Sevilla's pain is most definitely Barca's gain and Rakitic's true value to this team can only be measured at the end of this La Liga season.

However it's fairly safe to assume that the loose change of £14 million will represent money very well spent.

Bravo Barca.