He’s been linked with a move back to the Premier League, but not as a returned hero or with a man who’s reputation has been enhanced over the past 18 months.
Coutinho’s initial term with Barcelona was so bad that they Catalan club cut ties with their massive signing and sent him on loan to Bayern Munich, who have also decided they don’t want to keep the former Inter Milan player.
No Home
Now Chelsea appear to be on his radar, but only after Liverpool rejected the chance to bring him back to Anfield.
After all the tricks Philippe Coutinho pulled to get his move away from Merseyside, it suddenly doesn’t appear to have been worth the hassle.
Be Careful
Professional sport is littered with examples of players doing everything they can in order to engineer a move away. Some do it for money, others for love, but the actions and the result is normally the same: agitate and move.
In Coutinho’s case, he was struck down by a mysterious back injury during the summer transfer window, before miraculously recovering and playing his way to a Barcelona move in January.
Burned Bridges
Liverpool fans don’t really hold him in high regard because of that.
Yohan Cabaye refused to play against Arsenal in order to force through a move from Newcastle United to PSG and that ended up with him back in the Premier League at Crystal Palace with his tail between his legs.
Coutinho is about to experience something similar.
This story should be held up as a warning for future generations. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, look before you leap, and whatever you do try not to burn your bridges.