Rakitic returns home to Seville

Ivan Rakitic will be presented as a Sevilla player for the second time on Thursday.

The Croatian returns to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan six years after leaving for Barcelona.

Now, a return to the Andalusian city is as much for sentimental reasons as it is for footballing reasons.

Rakitic's family have their roots in Seville.

Raquel, his wife

Before his first presentation at the Sanchez-Pizjuan, a nervous Rakitic couldn't sleep in the hotel he was staying in nearby the stadium.

At midnight, he went to get a coffee and was served by waitress Raquel, who would go on to become his wife.

His wedding and children

With Raquel pregnant with their first child, Althea, the pair got married in the Seville city council building in 2013.

Two years later, they had a church service to celebrate their marriage before their second child, Adara, was born in 2016.

Parents-in-law

Rakitic's mother and father-in-law are both Seville locals and Sevilla fans and, as a result, he has a special relationship with them.

Sister-in-law

Raquel's sister, Irene, was overjoyed at the prospect of Rakitic moving back to Seville.

"Welcome home! We're waiting for you with open arms," she said in a post on Instagram.

Neighbours

Alongside Raquel's family, Rakitic would often visit the Pino Montano bar in Seville.

A photo of the Croatian in a shawl around his head and a shirt from the bar went viral.

Birthdays

For his 31st birthday party, Raquel put up red and white decorations as Rakitic celebrated in a sombrero and a glass of manzanilla.