Barça's Messi bought his neighbours' house because they were too noisy, says fellow player Ivan Rakitic

Midfielder for the Catalunya premier league team, Ivan Rakitic, told Novilist – a daily newspaper in his native country – that his colleague purchased the property next door to him in Castelldefels (Barcelona province).

“I've neer had a problem with my neighbours; not like, for example, Messi, when he bought his neighbours' house,” Rakitic told reporters.

“They were a bit noisy, so Leo had to buy their house off them so he could be on his own! But luckily, I've never had any trouble like this.”

Rakitic, who lives next door to Mascherano – and has no plans to buy his house to keep him quiet – in Gavà de Mar says the difference in social culture was noticeable when he transferred to Barça from Sevilla FC.

“In Sevilla, they're more like us in Dalmatia – we do things at our own pace, there's no rush, we'll have plenty of time tomorrow so let's sit down for a drink and relax for a bit...and they're very friendly, much closer and more open, just like the Dalmatians,” Rakitic revealed.

“But in Catalunya, they're generally very different – more like the Swiss. They're not as open. They respect each other, but they always keep a certain distance between each other.

“In Catalunya, they have their own circle of people with whom they have close relationships.

“It's different in Sevilla; you're walking down the street and everyone says hello; here, though, nobody even looks at each other,” the Croatian player explains.

He says he is 'very happy' in Barcelona, but admitted that in the beginning, the change was hard both for him and for his wife, Raquel, who comes from Sevilla.

“When my wife and I moved to Barcelona, it was difficult,” Rakitic said, frankly.

“We left a huge circle of friends and family who have always been with us.

“For me, it was a bit easier, although I also made loads of friends in Sevilla.”