Philippe Coutinho was Liverpool's golden boy in 2018.
The Brazilian was the focal point of Jurgen Klopp's emerging Reds side, and he had Barcelona banging the door down to sign him.
Liverpool did their best to fend off the Catalan giants in that summer window, with Coutinho starting the 2018/19 campaign a Red.
But Barcelona again came calling in January, and the lure of playing at the Camp Nou was too great for the midfielder to resist.
Again, Liverpool did their best to keep hold of the Brazilian, but eventually were forced to part company with him, making £142million in the process.
Two years on and Coutinho should be breathing down Lionel Messi's neck to become Barcelona's new focal point.
The 27-year-old should have a mantelpiece lined with trophies he had a big hand in helping Barcelona win, and he should be being considered for individual accolades.
But instead the Brazilian is on loan at Bayern Munich, and according to Bild, the Bundesliga giants have no intention of signing him permamently.
When Coutinho made the switch to Germany at the start of the season a buy-out clause was inserted in the deal.
Bayern Munich have no plans to trigger this, meaning Coutinho - who clearly hasn't impressed in Germany - is back at square one when he returns to Barcelona at the end of the season.
The Catalan giants do have a new boss, and he may wish to take another look at the Brazilian.
But if he doesn't, then Coutinho's agent Kia Joorabchian is facing a stressful summer in which he'll have to find his client a new club.
Maxpower
1049
Over and over he was warned not to go, Im sure Liverpool would've bought Allison and Van Dijk even if they didnt sell Coutinho. Klopp had it in his system to make Coutinho the center of the system of Liverpool, but decided to "seek titles" and not waste his talent at Liverpool so he forced his move to Barcelona only to go from a quality player, to a bench player, to a below average player. He's not bad at Bayern, creates many chances but loses the ball too much. Bayern want a player that creates chances and keeps the ball. It has been a sad journey for Coutinho since he left Liverpool, and I hope he finds himself. The only thing is that Barcelona will not want him, Camp Nou has an issue with him after what he did when the fans didnt like his performances, it was like Xhaka but not as aggressive, but it still had the same impact. He came, he saw, and he left from the back door without a chance to conquer.
jiweopsuy
972
dude has talent but mindset far off. dude a flop. his fault. valverde tried with him. real ballers adapt. look at griezman
iViper
727
It was hard for him. He would've never left Liverpool if they were as good as they're now then. And then it wasn't any club after him it was Barca, he didn't even have to thing. Players are so optimistic about the future when they come to Barca or Madrid. It is so hard to adapt but once you do you become a legend and the best. I hope he can get another chance at Barca under Satien, if not would love to see him in a place where we goes back to the magician he used to be.
cokbceos
422
this is serious. he made a big mistake to leave liverpool. that's the difference between klopp and other managers. so far klopp is the only manager that got the good out of coutinho. that proves klopp knows how to bring the best out of players
Kartik-thereds
165
Coutinho was the blue eyed boy of Liverpool fans, we all believed if he left there will be a big void. Klopp once said “Stay here these Liverpool fans will build a statue for you in your honour, go somewhere else you will be just an another player, “Here you will be something more” and now look at it how true Klopp words were. Coutinho was my favourite player and i actually feel very bad for him to see how much he has fallen off the ladder. I am sure he is regretting his decision and he would be kicking himself seeing Liverpool at the height of pinnacle. I do see lots of hateful words against him in comnents section, guys even i hate him but lets not forget ‘Once a red, always a red’ he has given us lots of good memories and we cherish them. He helped us during our progressive days for which we should be thankful. I am sure he is never coming back here but all we can wish him is good luck and hope to see his career back to where it was before. Good luck our ex-little magician!👍🏻