The Coutinho story

in #es5 years ago (edited)

Philippe Coutinho was one of the hottest and rising stars in the English Premier league few seasons back and was really on top of his game. He was being courted by Europe's big boys after scoring numerous magnificent curling long range strikes from the edge of the area. These strikes together with his passing range and his overall technical and mental attributes made Spanish giants Barcelona to splash out a whooping €132 million to land the Brazilian superstar thereby making him one of the most expensive players ever to play the round leather game.

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Coutinho's sole motive was to win their UEFA Champions league and logically it would have been easier to do so alongside the arguably the best player on the planet in person of Lionel Messi. The management at Camp Nou also thought Coutinho was the missing piece in the puzzle to solve their bitter rivals stranglehold on the highest prize in club football.

A marriage was hastily sealed between both parties but it seems things have not turn out particularly well for the parties involved. Firstly Liverpool whom Coutinho jilted and Madrid whom Barca so much hated got to the final of the UEFA Champions league with Madrid coming out winners with a sublime Gareth Bale overhead kick. This occurred after Barca suffered an embarrassing defeat in the hands of AS.Roma.

As if this was not enough insult Liverpool and Barcelona were to contest the semi final of 2018/2019 Champions league, Barca drew first blood in the first leg at Camp Nou but the Reds would come back in spectacular fashion hitting the Spanish outfit with four goals. Liverpool would go on to win a sixth European crown against Tottenham Hotspurs thereby moving of Barcelona and Bayern Munich to occupy the third spot after Real Madrid and AC Milan as the side with the most European Champions league glory.

Fast forward to the present, Barcelona have realised Coutinho may not be the missing link after all and are willing to trade him off to Tottenham in order to have fellow Brazilian Neymar back but Coutinho has rejected going back to the Premier league with a rival club to Liverpool. This rejection has essentially blocked the Neymar move and may result in Madrid cashing in on a potential shock move for Neymar.

Whichever way you look at it Coutinho's move to Barcelona seems to have benefitted Liverpool who were able to make some necessary reinforcement in the right areas and Madrid who might actually pounce and grab Neymar right from under Barcelona's nose.

This article reflects the view of @blessedman939 who is a sports enthusiast.

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