Barca make a statement with Coutinho deal Messi, Suarez net in Barca’s 3-0 victory
Catalans strengthen their ageing squad by spending £142 million to bring the Brazilian star on board
BARCELONA:BARCELONA’S capture of Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool will have only marginal impacts on the team’s objectives this season but is a major statement in their aim to remain a global soccer superpower which had been bruised by the departure of Neymar.
British media reports say the La Liga leaders will pay around 142 million pounds ($193 million) for Coutinho, making him the third most expensive transfer ever after Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, both at Paris St Germain, and ahead of new Barca teammate Ousmane Dembele.
Coutinho’s renowned pace and ability to pick out key passes on the break will give an extra edge to a Barca side which has proved highly functional under Ernesto Valverde but has lacked the sparkle of their former Brazilian forward, and has been over-reliant on the enduring brilliance of Lionel Messi.
Coutinho, who like Neymar is 25, will pick up the baton of rejuvenating Valverde’s ageing squad, with serial winners Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Messi all either over or approaching the age of 30.
The Brazil international’s appearances for Liverpool in the Champions League mean he cannot play again in Europe’s elite competition this season. However, his arrival will allow Valverde to rest his other attacking players in league games.
Coutinho hit 20 goals in his last 41 league games for Liverpool so he should take some of the responsibility for scoring from Messi, while his expertise in long range strikes could also could prove useful. Coutinho’s arrival may have a negative impact on Iniesta, who at 33 is in the final stages of his career at the elite level and is often the first player to be substituted by Valverde.
The Spain international, however, said last month he would welcome the Brazilian to the Nou Camp with open arms. “I think he’s a player who combines very well with others, he has a lot of talent, he is both footed, he scores goals and can drift between midfield and attack,” he told Mundo Deportivo. Uruguayan forward on the back of his award-winning season. The capture of Brazilian sensation Neymar from
Santos just a year earlier; that too after starving off competition from rivals
Real Madrid shows the club’s ability to attract and sign top players. clear indicators of the incoming player’s offerings.
And as history goes, Coutinho will be the 30th Brazilian player to play for Barcelona. The 25-year-old joins illustrious list that includes greats such as Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Ronaldo (Nazario) and Neymar, who recently left for PSG. themselves competitive in the EPL. According to the speculations,
Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez and Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez are their top targets. Mohamed Salah’s form may soothe the pain of Coutinho’s departure, but there is no doubt that they will miss his ability to provide. Despite sitting out for a long period this season, he has assisted six times and scored seven goals for Liverpool.
NEYMAR
Barcelona to Paris St-germain in 2017
KYLIAN MBAPPE
Monaco to Paris St-germain. On loan deal with option to buy
in 2017
PHILIPPE COUTINHO
Liverpool to Barcelona in 2018
OUSMANE DEMBELE
Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona in 2018
PAUL POGBA
Juventus to Manchester United in 2016 BARCELONA: Barcelona restored their lead at the top of La Liga standings to nine points after Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez each scored in a routine if underwhelming 3-0 win at home to struggling Levante on Sunday, with Paulinho increasing their lead in added time.
Record signing Philippe Coutinho did not attend the game after completing his 142-millionpound ($192.67-million) move from Liverpool to Barca on Saturday although Ousmane Dembele made his first league start in more than three months.
Messi was back in the starting line-up after missing the King’s Cup draw with Celta Vigo on Thursday and marked his 400th game in La Liga by opening the scoring in the 12th minute, volleying Jordi Alba’s cushioned header into the net.
Suarez struck his fifth goal in four games running by controlling a cross from Sergi Roberto and slamming the ball high into the net in the 38th minute.
Barca relaxed a little after the break but Brazilian international Paulinho added an extra shine to the win by tapping in as the game drew to a close, netting for the seventh time in the Liga, making him the topscoring midfielder in the Spanish Barcelona 3 Valencia 2 Sevilla 3
Las Palmas 1 Leganes 1 Levante 0
Girona 1 Real Betis 5
Eibar 2 Sociedad 0
top flight.
Barca are nine points ahead of nearest challengers Atletico Madrid and 17 clear of champions Real Madrid, who were visiting Celta Vigo later on Sunday.