Ivan Rakitic gives insight into the Barcelona players' parties

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic tried to play down the glamour of the parties the players hold every now and again. The Croatian said the private parties are no different to any other party. 

The Barcelona squad recently held an event to celebrate Luis Suarez turning 30 at a location in Castelldefels. Some media photographed the players arriving, but little emerged of what went on behind closed doors. 

In an interview with Croatian publication 'Novi List', he said: "I know people think a footballer’s life is all glamour, crazy parties... but recently [Luis] Suarez invited me to his 30th birthday, and it was the same as if any of you invited me: we bought him presents, sat down, had a dinner, conversation, had some fun and that is it.

"The majority of players at Barca, including [Lionel] Messi, Suarez and me, are family people and avoid parties and bars."

Rakitic also revealed that the players enjoy the game Ludo on away trips, a tradition which began during the Pep Guardiola years. 

"We always play Ludo when we travel and joke with each other afterwards," he added.

"Pepe Costa, Messi, Suarez and [Javier] Mascherano form one team: [Andres] Iniesta, [Sergio] Busquets, [Jordi] Alba and me are another team -- Aleix Vidal and [Samuel] Umtiti filled in while Busi and Iniesta were injured.  

"It's fun, better than putting your earphones on and isolating from friends on a bus or plane. Recently we travelled to Qatar and spent six hours playing that game!"