Ivan Rakitic has branded Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez as "very calm, polite and quiet".

Suarez, who moved to Barca from Liverpool this summer, is currently serving a four-month worldwide ban for a biting incident at this summer's World Cup.

It was the third time that the striker had been charged for biting an opponent during his professional career, but Rakitic has claimed that the Uruguayan is now a changed man.

"Suarez is very calm, polite and quiet," Rakitic told reporters.

"He's a great man and he said that any biting moments he has had in the past will never happen again."

Suarez could make his league debut for Barca against Real Madrid at the end of October.

Written by
Matt Law