Coutinho Gets Fresh Lease, Barcelona Return Stint Happening

The only team Philippe Coutinho will be returning to is his home team. With FC Barcelona undergoing major changes, it appears the 28-year-old midfielder will be returning to Camp Nou next season. The Brazilian player spent last season on loan to Bayern Munich.

According to his agent, Kia Joorabchian, there will be no return to the Premier League for Coutinho. He alleges that Barca wants him back "so badly," another chance for him to show what he truly brings to the team in an interview with TalkSPORT.

“Koeman called him right after the Champions League victory with Bayern, the following day, and told him he’s very much in his plans and would like him to return," Joorabchian said.

The sudden turn of events fends off the belief that Coutinho was headed to other clubs. Among the teams linked to the midfielder include Arsenal and Tottenham. Instead, Ronald Koeman has recalled him to the fray as the Catalan giants hope to get more out of him compared to his forgettable last stint.

It will be recalled that Coutinho was unable to sustain the same success he had with Liverpool when he arrived at Camp Nou in 2018. That led to him being sent out on loan to Bayern. Coutinho was acquired from The Reds for a record $138 million at the time.

Coutinho is under contract with Blaugrana until 2023. His return means he will get the chance to join forces with Lionel Messi once more. The Argentine ended up staying at Camp Nou after previously stating that he wants out.

Coutinho is coming off a good 2019-20 season despite initially suffering an ankle injury. He has accounted for 11 goals and nine assists across all competitions.

Ironically, it was Coutinho's last performance for Bayern that dashed Barca's Champions League aspirations. He scored two goals coming off the bench in a European quarter-final match, Goal reported.

“Well, you’ve got to do your job and he did his job perfectly, and it’s probably the reason why Barcelona wants him back so badly,” Joorabchian said on Coutinho's performance against the Catalan giants.

At that time it was believed that even with Coutinho's performance, there was no chance of Barca reconsidering him. But with Koeman now calling the shots, all that changed.