First Neymar, then Dani Alves, now former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis.
Another Brazilian has taken it upon himself to urge Coutinho to leave Liverpool, and it’s starting to really irk.
Filipe Luis has sung our no.10’s praises following Coutinho’s hat-trick versus Haiti in the Copa America, suggesting he’d love the 23-year-old to leave Merseyside and come and join him in Madrid – where he plies his trade for beaten Champions League finalists Atletico.
“Coutinho is amazing and can make the difference. We discussed that he can play for top UCL sides,” he told Esporte Interativo, reported by the Seleção Brasileira Twitter account.
“Coutinho asked me how it feels to play a Champions League final. He would be welcomed at Atlético Madrid, he has the quality.”
“In the locker room, our relationship is excellent. On pitch, we like to exchange passes. He’s a joy.”
Sorry, Filipe – I don’t think your club could afford him.
That being said, we’re starting to think that Coutinho being called up by Brazil and being around the squad for a month could be the worst thing to happen to Liverpool this summer, and it’s not like he’s got Roberto Firmino with him to keep his feet on the ground…
We’d also suggest that Filipe Luis wouldn’t be making such public declarations if Coutinho hadn’t allowed him to do so, but we hope that’s just our negative thinking.
Can they not just leave him alone? He’s a grown man – he can make his own decisions. If Coutinho genuinely decides he wants to move, then so be it, but it needs to be done with class and not through media games. Liverpool fans do not deserve that.