Barcelona on Saturday is delighted to announce that Philippe Coutinho has completed his transfer from Premier League club Liverpool. He joins on a five-year contract, with the option extend for a further year.
The Brazilian has become the third most expensive player in history after former Barcelona’s Neymar and Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe joining PSG and he supposed to bring new energy for Barca.
“Coutinho will sign a contract for the rest of the season and five more years and will have a release clause of 400 million euro,” Barca said in a statement, without detailing the amount of the transaction.
On the other side, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the club hoped they would be able to convince their star to stay at the club until the end of the season.
“It is with great reluctance that we as a team and club prepare to say farewell to a good friend, a wonderfull person and a fantastic player in Philippe Coutinho.” Jurgen Klopp wrote.
“It is no secret that Philippe has wanted this move to happen since July, when Barcelona made their interest known. Philippe was insistent with me, the owners and even his teammates this was a move he was desperate to make happen.
“Despite that, we managed to keep the player here beyond the summer window, hoping that he would be able to persuade him to stay and be part of what we are looking to do.
“I can tell the Liverpool supporters that we, as a club, have done everything within our means to convince Philippe that remaining part of LFC was as attractive as moving to Spain, but he is 100 percent certain his future, and that of his family, belongs at Barcelelona.” Klopp added.
Philippe Coutinho joined Liverpool from Inter Milan in January 2013. (Source:www.theindianexpress.com)
Coutinho looks like a makeover in an offensive compartment based on three Barca’s stars Lionnel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Andres Iniesta. He may be presented as the replacement of Neymar but should succeed more playmaker Iniesta, who essential but aging.
The 25-year-old player joined Liverpool from Inter Milan for 8.5 million in January 2013. He played 200 times and scored 54 goals during at the Anfield. All Camp Nou now hopes that he will do as well in La Liga and will match the other great Brazilian strikers in the history of the club.
