Does Barcelona really need Coutinho right now?
(Baonghean.vn) - It seems that Coutinho's move to Camp Nou is only a matter of time. However, is this the most sensible decision for the Barcelona management at this moment?
First and foremost, it must be stated that the Brazilian star is a top-class player and a good fit for the playing style of the "Catalan giants". Signing Coutinho would significantly boost Barcelona's strength; however, objectively speaking, the current time is not the most opportune moment for Barcelona to bring Coutinho to Camp Nou.
First and foremost is the price factor. Although Liverpool no longer have a strong chance of competing for the Premier League title with Man City, achieving a top-four finish remains extremely difficult. The Anfield club still wants to keep Coutinho, at least until the end of this season, because his importance to the Reds is undeniable.
Furthermore, The Kop still has hopes of winning the Champions League and the FA Cup. Certainly, manager Klopp and the Liverpool board do not want the team's strength to be diminished by Coutinho's departure. Losing the Brazilian star would leave Liverpool's attack lacking the depth and stability needed to compete for the championship with other rivals.
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| Coutinho is of immense importance to Liverpool. Photo: Internet |
Therefore, it's not easy for Liverpool to accept Coutinho's move to Barcelona in this winter transfer window. The only way for manager Klopp to keep the 1992-born player is to demand an exorbitant price to subtly deter Barcelona (according to reports from the English and Spanish media, the amount Liverpool is demanding is not much less than the 222 million euros PSG paid to poach Neymar from Camp Nou).
No matter what, Liverpool still holds the upper hand in the "love triangle" between Liverpool, Coutinho, and Barcelona. Simply put, the number 10 midfielder's contract has no release clause, and the 2018 World Cup is fast approaching. Whether Coutinho is happy or not, he wouldn't dare "rebel" or "go on strike" to refuse playing for The Kop.
Besides the risk of paying an exorbitant price to Liverpool, Barcelona also have doubts about the effectiveness of using Coutinho. The fact that the Brazilian star has already played for The Kop in this year's Champions League group stage means that Coutinho cannot play for Barcelona in the knockout rounds (according to UEFA regulations). Therefore, the 25-year-old midfielder will only be able to play in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Spending a large sum of money on a player who is only used in the second half of the domestic league seems a bit wasteful. In fact, with the current squad, Coach Valverde's team is still more than capable of winning both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, not to mention the return of their expensive signing, Dembele, after his injury layoff.
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| Dembele has fully recovered from his injury. Photo: Internet |
Having Coutinho at this time only makes it easier for coach Valverde to rotate the squad, giving players like Iniesta and Rakitic more time to rest. And there's another important point to consider: the arrival of the former Inter Milan midfielder will disrupt the playing style that coach Valverde is building at Barcelona. This is extremely dangerous, especially as the season is entering a crucial stage.
The points mentioned above are for reference only; the prospect of Coutinho wearing the Barcelona shirt is becoming clearer every day. It's unlikely that the Camp Nou team will give up on the Coutinho deal; the question is whether they will bring him in this January or wait until July?
