SougarLord Posted January 7, 2022 Posted January 7, 2022 Web: https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/futbol/primera-division/2022/01/07/61d80a5de4d4d8e0178bca69.html There was a moment in his career when Philippe Coutinho got carried away. Perhaps coinciding with his first season at Barcelona, when he arrived four years ago as the most expensive signing in the history of the entity (120 million euros plus another 40 in objectives, the Bartomeu government paid in full presidential delirium). When this Friday the transfer of him to Aston Villa, which will take care of a part of the footballer's large salary, has been completed, in the offices of the Camp Nou they breathed something more relieved. The loan, which ends on June 30 and includes a purchase option, should allow the current rectors of Barcelona to advance in the challenge of registering Ferran Torres, their great addition to this winter market. At least that is what sources from the club's high command consider, who will still have to continue expanding their salary margin to adapt it to LaLiga's financial fair play. It is not the first time that Barcelona sighs not to see Coutinho again, whom his coaches have tried to recover for the cause with no success. The last was Xavi Hernández, who did not take long to discover how much apathy can weigh. In the 2019-20 season, Coutinho was already on loan to Bayern, a club that later did not want to keep it. It was precisely with the Bavarians, although under contract with Barça, when Coutinho signed one of the most remembered performances of him, scoring two goals and scoring an assist in the pitiful 2-8 Champions League in Lisbon. Coutinho now marches with 106 games as a Barça player in his boots and after having scored just 25 goals. Pyrrhic figures for a playmaker who was never found a suitable location, and far removed from the status he one day acquired at Liverpool. The coach who now wants to get the best out of him, Steven Gerrard, a former teammate 'red', must still live in memory. At least Gerrard knows that Coutinho is excited to participate in the next World Cup in Qatar with Brazil. We will see if it is enough.
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