29 Aug 2017 16:11:15
I believe at the time of our pre-season cup games in the Audi Cup, Coutinho was made aware of the Barcelona interest via his representatives. He spoke to the club about it and they told him they wouldn't be interested in selling him. Barcelona went public etc, and Coutinho tried to push more. Running parallel to this was our failed attempts to land Keita.

Someone in the club said to Coutinho that if we would have signed Keita he may have been allowed to leave.

Fast forward to where we are today. Phil was asked to hold out for his move until next season. He said to the club that you will just say that you couldn't get your targets and leave me in this position again. Hence, the publicity around signing Keita for next season. This showed Coutinho that we would have cover for him next season. He know considers his next season an option for him.

To add, Neymar told him that it would be better to wait a season, as he thinks Barcelona will struggle this season, and he wants a strong World Cup performance from the team. National pressures after the last attempt.

In summary, Phil is open and more comfortable to stay another season. May not even go to Barca, may go to Paris, just depends. Liverpool are happy to spend the money they believe will come in when he is sold.

Could be an interesting season.

1.) 29 Aug 2017
29 Aug 2017 16:32:33
Actually makes some sense.

2.) 29 Aug 2017
29 Aug 2017 16:41:59
Makes sense, except for the money. I don't think Salah, Robertson, Solanke, Keita and potentially Lemar and VVD can come in without us selling Phil and probably a few others. To be honest I'd take that anyday. Phils a great player, but not worth turning down the added strength all over the pitch we will have if this all comes off.

3.) 29 Aug 2017
29 Aug 2017 16:35:24
It is less abt Barcelona and more abt the once in life time opportunity to play with Messi. I would think and we should let him go.

Cheers.

{Ed025's Note - why?, the club owe him nothing while he owes the club everything sami, plucked from obscurity, on excellent wages and just signed a long term deal, he is taking the piss mate..

4.) 29 Aug 2017
29 Aug 2017 16:47:42
Only thing is that Phil was tarting himself to Barcelona for over a year.

{Ed025's Note - yeah, i seen him in the alma de cuba wearing sussies and a basque mr D..

5.) 29 Aug 2017
29 Aug 2017 16:59:07
DDay, it was Cou who orchestrated this whole thing and "tapped up" Barcelona via his friend Neymar and his agent, something that has been going on for over a year now. Not the other way around. Barcelona did not call him. He called them.

{Ed025's Note - exactly bingo, which is why i cant understand this love in by supporters who say its ok for him to go and they wish him well..

6.) 29 Aug 2017
29 Aug 2017 17:19:26
BingoRed, not overly precious about who did what at this stage. Essentially, you are right. However at the time, Neymar wasn't leaving Barcelona and Coutinho thought he'd be playing with him. At any other time, not a World Cup season, he would clearly be silly not go and play for a very special club. (Yes Liverpool is the only special club to me, but I'm versed enough to know Barcelona is a great place to play) . You have to think about Coutinho's journey into the national side. A lot on here will say that Latin players always want to play for Barca/ Real. That may be true. But knowing Brazilians, as I do, the biggest pride for them is the national team.
Coutinho wasn't always a first pick for the national team. The new gaffer picks on form. Could you imagine if Bobby keeps playing well, Coutinho takes time to acclimatise in Spain and loses his place to his former colleague.
World cups come around every 4 years but to Brazilians that may as well be a lifetime.
At Liverpool, he can be central, he can continue from last season and he is almost guaranteed to play.

Let's see how it pans out. I think he may just stay, for a season more. Ref the money, trust me, it's not all about coutinhos fee to bank roll our movements.

7.) 29 Aug 2017
29 Aug 2017 19:02:52
You cannot separate his conduct from the overall saga, DDay. You just can't. He did this all by himself and he will have to take responsibility for his disgusting conduct and own it, end of.

Now, him wanting to go to Barcelona is not the issue as I was resigned to losing him at some point. But the way he like Torres, jammed the club in by putting in the TR's one before the end of the Jan TW in 2010 and the other before the season, is what is disheartening.

He would have made the Brazil team anyway whether he played here or at Barcelona as Tite himself said the team is offensively built around Cou cos they play the high press a la Klopp. Watch their games and see for yourself. Klopp was not going to sell and FSG backed his stance, up until when Klopp was fed up with his conduct and now wants rid and FSG has backed him there as well. This is all him and posterity will remember it, just like Torres and Masche (who like Cou, feigned injury and refused to play at City to force the move to Barca) .