TheHardTackle summarizes all the latest developments pertaining to Barcelona, ahead of Luis Enrique’s side’s return to league action this weekend against Malaga.
Philippe Coutinho and Lionel Messi dominate the headlines among others tonight. Here’s a roundup of everything happening in and around Camp Nou.
A €75 million price tag on Coutinho?
Barcelona could have to shell out as much as €75 million if they intend to prise Philippe Coutinho away from Liverpool. Brazil international Coutinho has been linked with a move away from Liverpool, with Barcelona and Real Madrid said to be keeping tabs on the midfielder.
Spanish publication Sport have now reported that the Blaugrana will have reportedly have to spend around €75 million as well as offer nearly double the wages he currently earns at Liverpool. This comes after Klopp hinted that the right offer could lead to Coutinho’s departure from Anfield.
As per Sport, Klopp said: “If there is a club that can pay double what we pay then I will bring the player there because who am I to say ‘no, no no, please don’t think about the family and the kids and the grandkids and their kids’, but I don’t know a lot of clubs in the world who are able to do this.”
The happy ending to Messi’s “perfect story”
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has opined that Lionel Messi ending his career at Camp Nou will be the “happy ending” to a “perfect story”. According to several reports this week, Lionel Messi could refuse to extend his current contract, which is due to run out in 2018.
Luis Enrique, though, was a picture of calmness when asked about Messi’s situation at the club. Speaking in his press conference, Enrique said: “A player who left his country when he was young, for him to finish his career as the number one player in history at the club where he started – it would be the perfect story. It’s a story that needs a happy ending but that question is for other people to answer.”
It would certainly be a fitting end to Messi’s storied career if he were to end his stellar professional life as a footballer at Camp Nou. Right now, though, his future seems at Barcelona to be hanging in the balance following the sensational claims by the media reports.
No Barcelona Switch Yet: Koeman
Barcelona legend and current Everton manager Ronald Koeman has dismissed rumours linking him with a switch to Barcelona in the near future. Koeman enjoyed a highly successful career as a Barcelona player, winning five La Liga titles and a European Cup during his six year stay at Camp Nou
The Dutchman told Daily Mail: “No, no, no, no. No. I don’t think so. No. One time, when I went to Valencia. They always speak about Koeman and Barcelona. Everyone knows I have a relationship with Barcelona. Everyone says: “One day Koeman will be the coach in Barcelona.””
He also insisted that he remains focused on the job at hand at Goodison Park, adding that a project of three years cannot be finished in one.
“The best thing is to believe in the project: how Everton is. It is not the final moment in this project. Of course not. I signed for three years. I don’t think I signed for three years and will be out after one year. No!”