Ivan Rakitic claims Barcelona have overcome Neymar's surprise PSG transfer: 'Sometimes the best players in the world don't make the best team'

• e-mail

Ivan Rakitic has revealed that the Barcelona squad have had to work hard to overcome Neymar's summer departure.

The Croatian midfielder labels the Brazilian as 'one of the world's best players' but believes an XI full of stars doesn't necessarily make the best team, despite their quality.

Neymar completed a record-breaking £198million move to Paris Saint-Germain in August and Rakitic feels they have coped well without the talented forward.

Ivan Rakitic labels former team-mate Neymar as 'one of the best players in the world'

'He is one of the best players in the world, but sometimes the best players in the world don't make the best team,' he said to Croatian publication Sportske Novosti.

'We have overcome his departure with collective work.

'We have worked as hard as possible and have been able to win.' 

Neymar managed 105 goals during his four-year spell at the Nou Camp, while also providing 80 assists during his 186 appearances. 

Since his move, Barcelona sit on top of La Liga and have comfortably made it through to the last 16 of the Champions League. 

However, the Croatian believes an XI full of stars wouldn't always make a cohesive team

Neymar completed a record-breaking £198million move to Paris Saint-Germain in August