Former Barcelona and Croatia star, Ivan Rakitic, has publicly apologised to Juventus fans following a social media misstep that caused a stir online.
The midfielder came under fire after sharing a celebratory post on Instagram in honour of Luka Modric’s move to AC Milan, which included a chant historically used to mock Juventus supporters.
According to Tribuna, the backlash emerged swiftly after Rakitic posted a message celebrating his close friend and fellow Croatian, Modric, who recently joined AC Milan in a headline-grabbing transfer.
In the now-controversial post, Rakitic wrote, “They don’t know how lucky they are, brother!!!
Good luck, always by your side!!! Thanks, brother, for visiting!”
The post also featured a popular AC Milan chant that didn’t sit well with many Juventus fans, who saw it as a dig at their club.
The backlash quickly spread across social media platforms, especially on X where Juventus supporters expressed their displeasure.
It appears Rakitic was unaware of the chant’s deeper meaning and historical rivalry implications.
Within 24 hours of the uproar, he responded via his Instagram story with a heartfelt clarification and apology.
“I wish to offer my sincerest apologies to Juventus fans,” Rakitic wrote. “My intention was solely to use a song associated with AC Milan to congratulate my friend Modric, without being aware of the historical context or the related lyrics.
“I had absolutely no intention of offending anyone, least of all a club for which I have the utmost respect.”
In a separate development, there are reports that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reached out to Rakitic over a potential move to the Premier League side.