From Sevilla to Barcelona, quality transfers
Ivan Rakitic has just signed for FC Barcelona from Sevilla FC. He thus follows in the footsteps of such players as Keita, Alves and Adriano, who all moved from the Sánchez Pizjuán to triumph at the Camp Nou.
Seydou Keita was the first of the trio. The Malian, now at AS Roma, was the first new arrival of the Guardiola era and played 188 official matches in four years with the FCB first team, and was one of the unsung heroes of the multiple title winning squad. He was followed by Dani Alves, who is of course still at FCB, having made the second highest number of first team appearances ever for a foreigner (297, topped only by Leo Messi). In six seasons, the Brazilian has won 16 major trophies. Soon after, his compatriot Adriano was signed in 2010, a hard-working full-back of a similar ilk to Keita, but who also scores goals like Alves: 14 in 142 matches over four seasons, he too is still on the FC Barcelona books.
Eight others
Keita, Alves, Adriano and Rakitic have all moved to Barça from Sevilla this century, but they were by no means the first. As many as seven players before them made the same switch, namely Padrón (1933/34), Szalay (1961-63), Pereda (1961-69), Gallego (1965-76), Oliveros (1967-69), Rubio (1979-81), Serna (1988-93) and Nando (1990-92).
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