According to a recent report by Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona midfielder Phillipe Coutinho would consider making a surprise switch to Manchester United. The same report has claimed that the Brazilian talent has been left frustrated with the lack of first-team opportunities under Ernesto Valverde this season.
The former Liverpool star has been a sporadic feature for the Catalans but has still managed to put in a few match-winning displays at the Nou Camp during this campaign. The 26-year-old has made 25 appearances for the La Liga giants this term, scoring six goals while creating five assists across all competitions.
His semi-decent contributions on the pitch have helped Barca gain a healthy 5-point lead over Atletico Madrid at the top of the league table. Coutinho has also earned 45 international caps for the Brazilian national side and has 13 goals to his name for his country.
He was arguably Brazil’s best player in last summer’s FIFA World Cup in Russia so we can expect him to play a significant role for his nation in the coming years.
Man United have done well under their new interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær but would no doubt welcome the possibility of acquiring a player of Coutinho’s talents. The Brazilian sensation has terrific ball control and can unlock any defence using his incredible vision and passing range. He can also score from a distance and is also a significant goal-threat in the attacking end of the pitch.
The acquisition of Coutinho will undoubtedly bolster Man United’s attacking options in midfield. Solskjær currently has the likes of Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Fred, Marouane Fellaini and Andreas Pereira vying for a starting berth in his first-team. So Coutinho will be a significant upgrade over any of them due to his creativity and goal-threat from midfield.
Ed Woodward should do everything in his power to lure the Brazilian to the red half of Manchester. However, it won’t be easy especially considering the player’s previous allegiance to Liverpool. Moreover, Coutinho had stated previously that it was his dream to play for a club like Barcelona so it would be a shock if he gives up on his career at the Nou Camp without putting up a proper fight.
