Player: Philippe Coutinho
Age: 25 years
Position: Winger/No.10
Nationality: Brazilian
To: FC Barcelona
From: Liverpool FC
Transfer Fee: £142 Million
On the 8th of January 2018, Spanish Giants FC Barcelona announced the club's most historic transfer ever. The Catalans finally struck a deal to bring long-term target Philippe Coutinho to the Nou Camp from Liverpool.
The transfer fee was a mammoth £142 Million, making Coutinho the world's 2nd most expensive transfer ever, behind former Barcelona winger and fellow Brazilian compatriot Neymar.
Yesterday, after long-serving Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano confirmed his departure and vacated the No.14 shirt, the club confirmed Coutinho had taken the vacated number.
With the arrival of Coutinho, Barcelona may perhaps have got one of the best-attacking units in Europe. It was a match made in heaven when Coutinho moved to the Nou Camp and play for a historic club such as Barcelona, but where exactly is he going to fit in?
Career Statistics
Club Football
Appearances: 283
Goals: 65
Assists: 53
For a player who is still just 25, Coutinho has already surpassed 250 appearances, combining the ability to score and create brilliant as well as crucial goals.
These club appearances also include former youth teams Inter Milan, Espanyol and Vasco Da Gama, but it is at Liverpool where he has grown into the fabulous player he is/
Liverpool FC
Appearances: 201
Goals: 54
Assists: 46
During a 5-year career with the Reds, Coutinho has transformed into Europe's most feared attackers especially for goals scored outside the box.
Crossing 200 appearances in all competitions, he has managed a massive 54 goals with a large number of strikes coming outside the box.
Premier League
Appearances: 152
Goals: 41
Assists: 38
Coutinho has graced the PL stage by storm and his 152 appearances across five seasons speak for itself.
Playing off the left supporting the central striker, Coutinho has been involved in a 79 PL goals, making him among Europe's most feared attackers
2017/18 Season (All Comps.)
Appearances: 20
Goals: 12
Assists: 9
Coutinho's final ever season with Liverpool saw him make 14 PL appearances, managing to score 7 times.
He had 5 UCL appearances this season, scoring 5 goals including a hat-trick in the final Group Stages game. Unfortunately, that will be the only UCL action he will play this season as he's cup-tied.
Barcelona's front four
Barcelona's front four for the remainder of their 2017/18 campaign is no short of a revelation. The only drawback would be Coutinho's omission from the UCL, a competition Barcelona would have been clear favorites to win with him in the side.
His favored offensive position would be down the left wing, the same position he played with his former side Liverpool.
Barcelona's main man Lionel Messi would be expected to play either on the right wing or further up in the No.10 role, supporting Luis Suarez. Ousmane Dembele would also want to be included in the same starting XI as his fellow teammates.
Barcelona also prefers playing with 3 central midfielders with Busquets, Rakitic and Paulinho. So, it would be interesting to see who begins on the left; Coutinho or Dembele.
Coutinho will be expected to start fixtures before Barcelona's mid-week UCL fixtures and with him featuring in the same side with the likes of Messi, Iniesta, and Suarez, he too will establish himself and take his game to the next level.
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