Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has insisted that his side should be crowned La Liga champions if the season does not resume.
The Catalan giants opened up a two-point lead on bitter rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table before the campaign was halted by the coronavirus pandemic.
La Liga officials are hoping to restart the season either at the end of next month or in June, but there is still a real possibility of 2019-20 being ended for good.
Rather than the campaign being declared null and void if another ball is not kicked, Rakitic feels that it is only right for Barca to be crowned champions.
"We all want to play again and to win the league by playing," he told Movistar+.
"I also understand that if we can't go back somehow, the season will have to end. If we are at the top then we will have to be the champions, but deadlines must be exhausted.
"The ideal scenario would be to finish whenever, but always with a well-made plan, especially considering next season too."
Rakitic has been linked with a move away from Camp Nou at the end of the season, but boss Quique Setien revealed last week that the midfielder has not yet asked for a transfer.
