Sources close to Ivan Rakitić have revealed that the celebrated footballer and Croatian international has decided to postpone his planned farewell match. At the same time, he informed club officials that he will continue working at Hajduk Split on a voluntary basis until the end of the season.
After announcing his retirement from professional football and saying goodbye to Hajduk at the end of last season, Rakitić had intended to organize a farewell match at Poljud Stadium. The plan, arranged with club leadership, was to bring together veterans from Barcelona, Hajduk, and the Croatian national team during the international break in Split. Part of the proceeds was meant to go to charity.
However, the current atmosphere in and around the club is far from celebratory. With tensions high, the moment simply doesn’t feel right for a farewell event, and the match has been postponed; whether temporarily or indefinitely remains unclear.
Rakitić’s second decision concerns his role as Hajduk’s technical director. He has informed the club’s leadership that he will continue in the position without receiving a salary, volunteering his time as a way to support the club and demonstrate his commitment.
In recent weeks, particularly following the departure of Goran Vučević, pressure on Rakitić has increased. Questions have been raised about his role, his frequent absences, travel commitments, and missed away matches.
From the outset, Rakitić had agreed with the club that his involvement would be limited, due both to family responsibilities and his participation in a UEFA education program. Faced with growing scrutiny, he has now chosen to continue working without compensation, making it clear that his connection to Hajduk is driven by emotion rather than personal interest.
