A 90th-minute Lionel Messi free-kick snatched a point for Barca in a 1-1 draw at the renamed Estadio de la Ceramica.

Rakitic was left out against the backdrop of reports in Croatia linking him with a move to Manchester City to join up with former Barca manager Pep Guardiola.

Luis Enrique says the two things are unrelated.

"Rakitic's absence has no relation with that story," Enrique said. "Anyway, it doesn't matter if the media is English, Croatian... you can't trust the media."

Vice-president Jordi Mestre, meanwhile, expressed his desire to see Rakitic remain at Camp Nou.

"We are negotiating Rakitic's renewal," he said. "We love him not only as a player but also as a person. He has a contract and we want him to stay."

Rakitic's existing contract expires in 2019.