Philippe Coutinho: Barcelona star damages Neymar relationship after Liverpool exit
NEYMAR has reportedly taken issue at Philippe Coutinho’s decision to swap Liverpool for Barcelona instead of PSG.
Barcelona stunned the world yesterday when they completed a £142million deal to sign Coutinho from Liverpool.
The 25-year-old will move to the Nou Camp as the world’s second most-expensive player and charged with the task of replacing Andres Iniesta, whose career is winding down.
In the months before the move, reports claimed PSG were desperate to sign Philippe Coutinho after the player was recommended to the club’s hierarchy by Neymar.
Neymar and the former Liverpool star are close friends having gone through the Brazil youth teams together.
But Spanish outlet Don Balon claim Coutinho’s move to Barcelona has not been well-received by Neymar in Paris.
It is said Neymar recommended Coutinho to Barca during his own time at the club.
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And he also wanted the player to join him at PSG after he himself quit the Nou Camp.
Coutinho, however, appeared to only have eyes for Barcelona.
The playmaker never seemed interested in a move to PSG, despite Neymar being there.
And Don Balon say Neymar is now furious with Coutinho for snubbing his charm offence.
So bad is the forward’s anger he has supposedly even refused to congratulate Coutinho on his move.
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Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundit Guillem Balague has explained why Barcelona paid so much for Coutinho at this point in the season.
"Why do they want Coutinho now? It's an adaptation situation," he said.
"They feel he's not a midfielder in the mould of Barcelona but a forward. Although he's got a quality to be a midfielder if he puts a lot of work without the ball.
"They want him in the Iniesta role, ideally, but he's not there yet.
"He's a creative force at a time where they don't have so many creative forces.
"At the moment what they need straight away is a replacement for Neymar, which they did not get [in the summer]."
