Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I don’t blame Coutinho for wanting to go. Barca’s the dream for any South American star
GRAEME SOUNESS EXCLUSIVE
PHILIPPE COUTINHO has put the bitter disappointment of not moving to Barcelona behind him, according to Graeme Souness.
And the Liverpool legend believes the Kop will forgive and forget if the Brazilian now reproduces the sparkling form that made him a £120million target for the Catalans. Souness even sympathised with the midfield maestro because he knows that, for South American players, the chance of joining La Liga giants Barca or Real Madrid is “the pinnacle” of their careers.
And the 25-year-old scoring in Liverpool’s last two games – after being recalled to the starting team by Jurgen Klopp – is a sure sign that Coutinho is back on message at Anfield.
Souness said: “Coutinho would have been gutted not to have made the move to Barcelona in the summer.
“He made it clear he wanted to leave – and, to be honest, I don’t blame him.
“Coutinho wasn’t being disrespectful to Liverpool by asking to leave. In fact, I’d say the opposite is true. “Players very rarely make transfer requests – usually for financial reasons – so, for Coutinho to come out and say he wanted to join Barcelona took some bottle.
“But I think people need to understand what playing for Barcelona or Real Madrid means for South American and Latin players. It is the pinnacle.
“Liverpool are a great name all over the world. But when a Brazilian is offered the opportunity to join Barcelona, he isn’t going to turn it down.
“I am sure Liverpool’s fans know that. They are very special people, who know the game inside out.
“They will forgive Coutinho because they will understand exactly what the lad missed out on.
“What he needs to do now is to have another fantastic season.
“He certainly hasn’t looked like a player who is sulking, after being brought back into the team.
“I think he realises that he is at a very special club in that the fans will forgive anything, if they see a player giving everything he’s got.”
Liverpool found themselves in a similar situation when Luis Suarez (below) wanted to join Arsenal in 2013 after the London club appeared to trigger the £40m escape clause in his contract.
The Reds stood firm and the Uruguayan responded by scoring 31 goals as Liverpool came within a whisker of the Premier League title.
Suarez was also named PFA and FWA Footballer of the Year before leaving Merseyside, when Barcelona lodged a £65m bid.
The Catalans are desperate to link Suarez with Coutinho once again and sources in Spain claim they will resurrect their interest in the Brazilian in January.
Souness said: “Liverpool were very clear that Coutinho wasn’t for sale – and the last thing they will want is for the lad to be unsettled in the New Year.
“The fans responded positively when Luis Suarez wanted to leave because he started playing some of the best football of his career.
“They will be looking for the same kind of reaction from Coutinho.
“There was a reason Barcelona were ready to pay so much money for him: he is one of the best in the league in terms of making and taking goals.
“Jurgen Klopp will now be hoping that Coutinho will turn dominant Liverpool performances into winning performances.
“It’s just a pity that the lad can’t head balls clear at the other end – because that’s what Liverpool are lacking.”