Somewhere, there is someone sitting back and chuckling at the nonsense they’ve been spouting regarding Barcelona’s pursuit of Philippe Coutinho.
Catalan press have been the guiltiest party when it has come to feeding unreliable updates that have, in turn, been the basis of any hope the Spanish side has had of signing the Brazilian.
In truth, they have had no hope, with Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group admirably refusing to abandon their adamance that the No.10 will not be sold this summer- for any price.
What remains certain and clear to all, is Coutinho’s desire to secure his dream move to the Nou Camp, as evidenced by his transfer request.
The latest claim, via beIN SPORTS, is that the 25-year-old has told Jurgen Klopp he does not want to be included in Liverpool’s Champions League squad.
.@Phil_Coutinho has reportedly told @LFC he doesn’t want to be included in their @ChampionsLeague squad this season! #beINUCL#LFCpic.twitter.com/g9docq6tnm
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) August 25, 2017
The verdict? Absolute rubbish.
With a place in the Brazil squad for the 2018 World Cup at stake, there is no chance Coutinho will be wasting the opportunity to prove himself on European club football’s biggest stage.
Besides this, he will need another sparkling season if he is intent on making the move to Barcelona at some stage in the next year.
Three eye-opening bids have been rejected by Liverpool and so will any further offers.
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Klopp’s mixed injury update on crucial Reds trio… Coutinho included