But it was so difficult to get her to go out with me, because she rejected me a lot. There was a big European club ringing my brother, trying to send a plane to pick me up from Seville to sign for them, but I said, ‘I’ve already given my word to Sevilla – I’m going to sign for this club and I’m going to marry that girl.’ That was easy for me – I was sure she had to be my wife.

As soon as I saw her I knew I wanted to marry her. I was nervous so I asked my brother to come for a drink with me. I had a medical the next morning, many things to sort out. The first day I arrived in Seville it was late. Seville is special to you on a family level too… The whole city is really crazy about football and it’s a really special atmosphere. The two stadiums are only five minutes apart.

We have Sevilla and Betis, two huge rivals, both in the Primera Division. Ivan Rakitic: Really amazing, it’s probably the craziest city in Spain for football passion. What’s the passion for football like in Seville? : Ivan you recently moved back to Sevilla.

Rakitic fifa 15