Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Coutinho’s the perfect fit for Barca RONALDINHO EXCLUSIVE
BRAZIL legend Ronaldinho believes Philippe Coutinho will be a huge hit at Barcelona.
Barca failed with a £90million bid for the Liverpool playmaker in the summer, but they continue to court the 25-yearold and have made it clear they are not giving up the chase.
And former Nou Camp star Ronaldinho understands why.
He sees a kindred spirit in Coutinho and reckons he would love life in La Liga.
“Of course the decision is Coutinho’s, but Barcelona would suit him,” said the genius who lifted two La Liga titles, the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or in five seasons with Barcelona.
“Talking about Philippe brings me a lot of happiness.
“He’s a player I admire. Seriously, it brings me joy watching him. I believe that Spanish football has everything that is attractive to him. It suits his style. Barcelona doesn’t have any particular attraction for Brazilian players.
“But if he – or anyone – is to succeed there, they must play with passion. And they have to be happy.
“Then it’s just down to the player’s own imagination as to whether they succeed.”
Liverpool stood firm when Barcelona came calling in the summer. Coutinho signed a new five-year contract worth £150,000 a week in January, and making him Anfield’s highest-paid player was a statement of intent by the club.
The former Inter Milan star slapped in a transfer request – but even that didn’t weaken Liverpool’s resolve.
The word from inside the club is that Liverpool will continue to resist Barcelona if they return with an improved offer in the summer. Coutinho is desperate to protect his place in Brazil’s team for next summer’s World Cup in Russia. And Kop boss Jurgen Klopp insists that the player’s attitude has been exemplary this season.
But Coutinho is now one of the hottest properties in world football. And an added complication is that Paris Saint-Germain are also monitoring his situation after being urged by Neymar to make a move for his international teammate.
An offer in excess of £100m would really test Liverpool’s stance that a player who cost them just £8.5m four years ago is going nowhere.
Klopp and the club’s owners are united in their belief that allowing Coutinho to go last summer would have hurt the team’s ability to compete in the Champions League and Premier League because Barcelona made their move at such a late stage.