Barcelona Take U-Turn As New Boss Koeman Decides To Not Loan Star Midfielder: Report

Philippe Coutinho reportedly will not leave FC Barcelona on loan during the ongoing summer transfer window.

It is understood Barcelona had been trying to get rid of Coutinho even if it meant on loan, while there is interest from a few Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea. The Spanish giants were looking to clear funds by getting rid of Coutinho to sign one of their top transfer targets such as Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez.

Coutinho, who moved from Liverpool FC to Nou Camp during the 2018 January transfer window, had failed to become a regular face in the team and, as a result, the Brazilian playmaker was loaned off to Bayern Munich ahead of the 2019-20 season.

The move, in the end, backfired for the La Liga giants as Coutinho played a significant role in Bayern’s 8-2 victory over Barcelona in the quarters of the 2019-20 Champions League. The midfielder was involved in Bayern’s final three goals in the 8-2 game in Lisbon, where Coutinho provided an assist before netting the last two goals to make it eight for the German side.

Coutino’s loan deal at Bayern Munich included a buyout clause, but the Bundesliga side refused to pay $142 million to sign the player permanently. The former Liverpool player’s loan stint in Germany expired at the end of the previous season, and Coutinho now has rejoined his parent club Barcelona in Spain.

Spanish publication Marca has claimed Barcelona’s new head coach Ronald Koeman has informed the club’s board that he will not loan Coutinho away this summer. The report has also stated Coutinho will leave Barcelona only if the club receives a huge offer for the 28-year-old. However, in the current situation of financial crisis everywhere due to the coronavirus pandemic, that looks highly unlikely, and that would mean Coutinho would once again play for Barcelona in the upcoming campaign.

Koeman, who has replaced Quique Setien as the club’s new manager, has been asked to revamp the side after Barcelona went trophyless in the 2019-20 season for the first time since 2008. Coutinho joined Barcelona when Ernesto Valverde was in charge, who used the player as a winger where Coutinho failed to deliver to his potential.

The Marca report has also revealed Koeman could use Coutinho as a central midfielder ahead of the 2020-21 season. Even at Liverpool, Coutinho played majorly as an attacking midfielder and was immensely successful as he had scored 54 goals in 201 competitive matches.