Coutinho is on loan at Munich from Barca and it looked like his future with the Catalan club was decided - and it wouldn’t be with them.
Silly
This is the team who spent a huge amount of money on the Brazilian when they signed him from [Liverpool][1], but the dream quickly turned into a nightmare and Barcelona couldn’t wait to get rid of him.
They probably didn’t expect him to come off the bench and have such an impact, even if the result was already gone.
Philippe Coutinho had a direct hand in the last three goals as he set up Robert Lewandoswki before scoring the last two himself, just to add salt into the wounds.
Hurting
Except Coutinho looked like the most conflicted man on the field. He could be about to win the Champions League, a dream any professional football will have, with an elite club, but he’s just helped to humiliate his full-time employer and the one he fought tooth and nail to play for.
Upon arriving at the Camp Nou, [Goal][2] reported that Coutinho called this club ‘a place of magic’. It’s become less of a magicians hideaway, more of a torture chamber for the talented South American since his move from Anfield, but they finally allowed him to shine on the big stage.
The problem for the rueful Brazilian was that they allowed him to shine against themselves.
Damp
Coutinho couldn’t fire Barca to their own European glory and has been a figure of fun since the restart as he struggles to find a club for 2020/2021, although that may be made easier by a Champions League winner’s medal hanging around his neck.
Another twist in his fortunes could still be in the pipeline. After the defeat, Barcelona [swiftly fired][3] manager Quique Setien. The next gaffer, bound by financial restraint and a fresh outlook, could turn to Coutinho to add youthful energy to an ageing forward line.
It would have been an odd night for Coutinho. It was an odd night for European football. But in the weirdest possible way, could it spark his resurgence?[1]: www.rushthekop.com[2]: https://www.goal.com/en-au/news/philippe-coutinho-mystery-dream-barcelona-transfer-nightmare/bqfi8doif53x1lttvk1nizkm8[3]: https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/barcelona-fire-manager-quique-setien-after-8-2-champions-league-loss-to-bayern-munich/