Brazilian Philippe Coutinho secures dream move as he leaves Liverpool for Barcelona in third most expensive transfer ever u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u0094 160m euros (Rs.1,217 crore)
Brazilian Philippe Coutinho has been Barcelonas number-one target after Neymar left for Paris St Germain last August. Pic/AFP
Barcelona: Philippe Coutinho is set to realise his dream of moving to Barcelona despite Liverpool's great reluctance to let the Brazilian playmaker leave Anfield for a British record fee worth up to Pound142million (160 million euros). Coutinho, 25, was the subject of a Pound118million bid from the Catalan club in August, an approach Liverpool rejected, but he is now heading to the Nou Camp after a deal was agreed on Saturday.
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A statement read: "Liverpool can confirm Philippe Coutinho will be leaving the club after a transfer agreement was reached with Barcelona, subject to medical and agreement of personal terms. The player now has permission to complete the usual formalities to conclude the transfer immediately." Barcelona made Coutinho their number-one target after his countryman Neymar made a world-record Pound200.6million move to Paris St Germain in August and he will sign a five-and-a-half-year contract.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp stressed his club had done everything possible to persuade Coutinho to remain at Anfield, but revealed the player had been desperate to move to Spain ever since July. "It is with great reluctance that we - as a team and club - prepare to say farewell to a good friend, a wonderful person and a fantastic player in Coutinho," Klopp said.
54 No. of goals Coutinho has scored for English giants Liverpool in 201 appearances
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