FC Barcelona are reportedly trying to do everything they can to try and sign Neymar back from PSG. The Brazilian forward who once was a part of Barca’s formidable attacking trio of ‘MSN’ is unsettled at PSG and wants out of the club. This all has led to the news doing rounds that Barca are reportedly looking at including Philippe Coutinho in a deal for Neymar. The club however has been very unclear about this entire situation and this has agitated Kia Joorabchian, Coutinho’s agent who has demanded the club to be clear and honest about what they really want.
As reported by Marca, Joorabchian claims that he was told by Barcelona’s General Manager Pep Segura and President Josep Maria Bartomeu that the club had no intention of selling Coutinho and that they want the Brazilian to continue to represent the Blaugrana.
However, the Brazilian’s agent has reason to believe that the Catalan club would be willing to sell Coutinho after all and may include him in a deal for compatriot Neymar. Philippe Coutinho has had an underwhelming season and has not been up to expectations since he joined the club in a big money move from Liverpool, something the player himself has admitted.
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This has led to speculations surrounding the players future at Barca, with clubs like Manchester united, Paris Saint-Germain and former club Liverpool considered to be likely destinations for the forward.
Coutinho himself had suggested that he is uncertain about where he will be playing next summer. However, Coutinho’s agent has tried to squash the transfer talk by saying that he was given a guarantee by Barca executives that they didn’t want to sell the player to any club and therefore they didn’t look at the market and subsequently there are no offers on the table for the player.
Nevertheless, Barca’s statements guaranteeing the Brazilian’s stay at the club are contradictory to what Andre Curry, Barcelona’s adviser in Brazil, is reportedly planning. As per RMC, Joorabchian was quoted saying the following :
"“It is a fact that Andre Cury works in a different way from that of Barcelona and he is pressing for Coutinho to be included in the transfer of Neymar from PSG.”"
Coutinho’s agent then went on to call upon FC Barcelona to tell the truth and be clear of their intentions with the Brazilian forward. Joorabchian said that he won’t allow Barelona to lie and that if they want Coutinho to leave the club, then they have to say it and not say two completely opposite things at the same time.
With Barca’s signing of Antoine Griezmann, for the club to afford Messi, Suarez, Neymar, Griezmann and Coutinho all at once seems unlikely and the Blaugrana would look to cash in on one player and likely to include him in a deal for Neymar.
Will Coutinho stay at PSG or will he represent a new club next season?