BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 24: Philippe Coutinho of FC Barcelona looks on during the Group B match of the UEFA Champions League between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale at Camp Nou on October 24, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Barcelona: Philippe Coutinho rejecting Manchester United was obvious
Why would any player move from Barcelona to Manchester United in 2019?
Barcelona underwent a mixture of emotions in the 2018-19 season. They dominated the Spanish domestic league, however, failed to capitalise on what seemed like an easy ride to the Champions League final.
They were coasting against Liverpool at 3-0, however, a masterclass at Anfield saw the Reds snatch the UCL hopes from Lionel Messi and his teammates. They then went on to win the competition, much to the annoyance of their former man Philippe Coutinho.
See, the Brazilian left Liverpool in order to ‘win trophies’, the most notable being the Champions League. However, since his big-money move at the start of 2018, Liverpool has improved massively and Coutinho has remained at a stalemate. Actually, even that may be a bit of a stretch.
There doesn’t seem to be much of a future for Coutinho at Barcelona, especially if the Catalans keep Ernesto Valverde at the helm. That said, it would be a wise decision for him to seek a move elsewhere.
And this is exactly what he’s doing. However, according to Marca, Coutinho will not consider a move to Manchester United. The Red Devils were commonly linked with his name, alongside Chelsea, but they can now rule such a transfer out and look at other options.
The decision to reject Manchester United is a smart one from Coutinho. He has so much to offer that United’s current situation just does not do him justice. It sounds cliche but United simply isn’t an attractive club anymore and Coutinho could do much better.
Coutinho is commonly referred to as a magician and this metaphor is indicative of his ability. Watching him on the ball, it’s easy to get just as bewildered as watching a magician. His main traits revolve around his creativity and flair, however, he also has the ability to take on a shot from any distance.
He is somewhat similar to Paul Pogba, although they do have their obvious differences. That said, it’s easy to see why United was interested in signing him since Pogba is also looking for a move away from Old Trafford (according to The Sun). See, there’s a similarity; neither of them wants to play under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Do you think Philippe Coutinho is too good for Manchester United or is that his level? Have your say in the comments section below!
