Football

Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona timeline

Published

6 years ago

January 5, 2018

Olu Emmanuel

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2013

30 Jan: Philippe Coutinho joins Liverpool from Inter Milan in an £8.5m deal.

2016

Summer: Barcelona first emerge as a serious suitor for Coutinho, although Paris Saint-Germain appear most likely to register their interest.

2017

6 Jan: Jurgen Klopp issues statement telling Barcelona to forget about signing Coutinho.

“We never had any ideas or plans or any talks about him leaving,” Klopp said.

25 Jan: Coutinho signs a new five-year contract at Liverpool. The deal is meant to end Barcelona’s interest in the Brazilian, who will earn £8m a season.

April: Liverpool insist Coutinho is not for sale at ANY price.

1 July: Summer transfer window opens. Bookies install Barcelona as favourites to land Coutinho.

4 Aug: Barcelona reluctantly sell Neymar to PSG in a £200m hostile transfer.

9 Aug: Liverpool reject Barcelona’s first bid of £90m for Coutinho. A second bid is also snubbed.

11 Aug: Coutinho hands in transfer request.

12 Aug: Coutinho makes himself unavailable for Liverpool’s season opener at Watford. He effectively goes on strike.

18 Aug: Liverpool reject a third bid of £114m for Coutinho.

23 Aug: Barcelona consider £138m bid for Coutinho but it is never made.

28 Aug: Despite still not playing for Liverpool this season, Coutinho is declared fit for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers.

1 Sept: Coutinho scores for Brazil on transfer deadline day after realising there will be no late agreement between Liverpool and Barcelona.

13 Sept: Coutinho makes his first Liverpool appearance in the 2-2 Champions League draw with Sevilla.

19 Sept: Liverpool deny they requested a €200m transfer fee for Coutinho.

30 Dec: Nike accidentally publish a promotion for Barcelona players to buy a shirt with Coutinho’s name on the back. Neither Nike nor Barca comment on the leak.

31 Dec: Express Sport understands a £125m deal could be brokered between Liverpool and Barcelona – and that Coutinho may remain on Merseyside until the end of the season.

2018

1 Jan: January transfer window opens and Coutinho has an unexpected thigh injury, ruling himself out of the game at Burnley.

2 Jan: Reports that Coutinho has gone on strike surface.

4 Jan: Pressmen reveal potential breakdown of transfer fee.