Barca make a statement with Coutinho deal Messi, Suarez net in Barca’s 3-0 victory
THINKING AHEAD Catalans strengthen their ageing squad by spending £142 million to bring Brazilian star on their roster
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.
— the third highest in transfer history — throws light on Barcelona’s effectiveness in making marquee signings in times of need. Coutinho’s future at Liverpool had been a matter of contention for over six months. Despite Liverpool rejecting several offers at the start of the season, Barcelona did manage to sign him.
case of former teammate Luis Suarez in 2014, Liverpool held out for over a year. But in the end Barca signed the
it seems that Barcelona have finally fulfilled their long standing plan of bringing in a replacement for
who is now 33-year-old. With other key players such as Lionel Messi (30) and Sergio Busquets
(29) approaching their definitive years, Coutinho’s signing is surely one for the long run.
to create, score from outside the box and play a diverse role
(wing or central) in manager Ernesto
Valverde’s setup are
has brought Liverpool’s fab-four, consisting of Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah to an untimely end. But it has also provided Liverpool with a financial boost to bring in replacements.
splurged big on singing centre-back
for £75m, they must quickly reinvest in a playmaker to keep Uruguayan forward on the back of his award-winning season.
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.
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. 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. 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 Span- Barcelona 3 Valencia 2 Sevilla 3
Las Palmas 1 Leganes 1 Levante 0 Girona 1 Real Betis 5 Eibar 2 Sociedad 0 Barcelona 18 15 3 0 Atletico 18 11 6 1 Valencia 18 11 4 3 Real 16 9 4 3 Sevilla 18 9 2 7 41 48 19 39 20 37 16 31 -4 29
ish 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.