Report: Barcelona will look to avoid playing Coutinho even after his return from injury

Journalist Javi Miguel on TV3’s program Onze, has stated that Barcelona will not play Phillippe Coutinho again this season. Even when he returns from injury, the club want to save money by avoiding the cost of variables based on appearances. Barcelona’s current financial crisis is no secret. With over a billion euros of outstanding debt piled up, they will try to look for any and all solutions to salvage funds.

Miguel highlights that if Coutinho makes seven more appearances for the club, they will have to pay an additional five million euros to Liverpool. The midfielder joined Barcelona from Liverpool in January of 2018 and has not had the best of time with the Catalan outfit.

Coutinho has made 90 appearances for Barcelona so far, with 23 goals and 14 assists to his name. However, he has consistently struggled for form and fitness during his time at the club so far.

Barcelona, who are severely strapped for cash, secured Coutinho from Liverpool for a whopping 145 million euros. However, the Reds are among the numerous clubs Barcelona still owe money to in add-ons and variables for transfers.

The Brazilian is Barcelona’s most expensive signing to date, but the Blaugrana have not completely settled the books for his move. They reportedly still owe Liverpool well over 30 million euros out of the 145.

Coutinho has been on the sidelines since December, when he suffered a meniscus injury to his left knee. The midfielder underwent arthroscopic surgery after coming off against Eibar and is expected to get medical clearance in March.

However, it may not make too much of a difference if the reports are true. The 28-year-old was showing positive signs since his return from a loan at Bayern Munich, but there is also constant speculation that he may be offloaded in the summer.