Report: Barcelona ready to offer one final chance for €135 million misfit to come good

Philippe Coutinho has had a torrid time since his dream move to Barcelona back in the January transfer window of 2018. Signed from Liverpool for a club-record transfer fee, the Brazilian playmaker endured a swift decline in stature at Camp Nou in his first full season with the club.

As a result, Barcelona sent him out on loan to Bayern Munich for the 2019/20 campaign, where he found some form, but not enough to convince Die Roten to sign him permanently. Back in Catalonia ahead of the 2020/21 season, many expected the 29-year-old to be on his way out sooner rather than later.

However, manager Ronald Koeman decided to give him a shot, and Coutinho did show signs of form, before an injury struck him down in December, ruling him out for the rest of the term. Back to full fitness now, the ex-Liverpool playmaker has once again been heavily linked with an exit.

With the financial mess that Barcelona find themselves in, coupled with his wages and his current standing within the squad, it would only seem logical for the Brazilian to be shown the door. But, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, it seems like the Blaugrana have had a change of heart.

It is claimed that Barcelona are ready to give Coutinho one final chance to prove himself at Camp Nou, with Koeman himself willing to hand the Brazilian a key role. The exit of Lionel Messi, coupled with Gerard Pique’s salary reduction and the impending wage cuts of the other three captains means that Coutinho’s wages are not a strain.

There is also the belief that the former Inter Milan midfielder could thrive with more freedom on the pitch without Messi’s presence. There have been talks of him being handed the No. 10 shirt for the season as well.

Another factor that has forced Barca into considering their stance on Coutinho is the future of midfield prodigy Ilaix Moriba. With contract talks not progressing as planned, there is a growing feeling within the camp that the 18-year-old’s departure is imminent.

With Pedri having been involved in over 70 games with Barcelona and Spain at the Euros and the Olympics in the past year, the teenager will also need to be rested at some point in time.

In addition, the club are not happy with the offers that they have received for the 29-year-old to date, either. So, given the situation, the Catalans are willing to give Coutinho another shot and expect him to grow into a leader of the team.