Philippe Coutinho transfer saga
2013
30 Jan: Philippe Coutinho joins Liverpool from Inter Milan in an £8.5m deal.
The transfer was complete with just one day of the transfer window remaining.
“Liverpool is a great club with great players,” he said. “We’ve always heard about Liverpool’s history in Brazil. I know they believe in me and my football.”
2016
Summer: Barcelona first emerge as a serious suitor for Coutinho, although Paris Saint-Germain appear most likely to register their interest.
October: Reports surface that Coutinho wants to join Barcelona as the transfer chatter refuses to die.
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Philippe Coutinho has agreed a £142m move to Barcelona
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Philippe Coutinho didn’t down tools despite wanting to move to Liverpool
2017
6 Jan: Jurgen Klopp issues statement telling Barcelona to forget about signing Coutinho.
“We never had any ideas or plans or any talks about him leaving, because he is our player – there are no other ideas, nothing has changed,” Klopp said.
25 Jan: Coutinho signs a new five-year contract at Liverpool. The deal is meant to end Barcelona’s interest in the Brazilian, who will earn £8m a season.
“I am very happy to sign a new contract here,” Coutinho said.
“It is a club that I am very grateful to and this shows my happiness here.
“I will work much harder to repay the belief shown in me.”
April: Liverpool insist Coutinho is not for sale at ANY price.
Klopp says: “I think it’s positive when there is interest. It shows it’s good. I am not concerned because I think Phil fits really well and comfortable here.”
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Philippe Coutinho has got his wish and the transfer has been done
9 May: Philippe Coutinho ‘agrees’ to join Barcelona.
Catalan press ramp up the rumours of the Brazilian leaving Anfield, with claims his representatives have sorted out a deal.
1 July: Summer transfer window opens. Bookies install Barcelona as favourites to land Coutinho.
4 Aug: Barcelona reluctantly sell Neymar to PSG in a £200m hostile transfer.
The search for a replacement begins, with Coutinho their top target.
9 Aug: Liverpool reject Barcelona’s first bid of £90m for Coutinho. A second bid is also snubbed.
11 Aug: Coutinho hands in transfer request.
12 Aug: Coutinho makes himself unavailable for Liverpool’s season opener at Watford. He effectively goes on strike.
17 Aug: Barcelona general manager Pep Segura says a deal was close.
Klopp responds, saying: “I don’t know why other people are saying what they are saying.
“I don’t even know them – especially this guy. I’ve never even met him.”
18 Aug: Liverpool reject a third bid of £114m for Coutinho.
19 Aug: Coutinho also misses a home win over Crystal Palace, with a back injury to blame for his absence.
23 Aug: Barcelona consider £138m bid for Coutinho but it is never made.
28 Aug: Despite still not playing for Liverpool this season, Coutinho is declared fit for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers.
Brazil’s team doctor says: “From a medical point of view, Philippe is in the perfect condition to play.”
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Philippe Coutinho appeared to wave goodbye to Liverpool fans after the Leicester game
1 Sept: Coutinho scores for Brazil on transfer deadline day after realising there will be no late agreement between Liverpool and Barcelona.
13 Sept: Coutinho makes his first Liverpool appearance in the 2-2 Champions League draw with Sevilla, coming on as a substitute to a standing ovation at Anfield.
19 Sept: Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu explains why a summer deal fell through.
He says: “I will not say how much we offered, but they asked for €200m,” he told TV3.
“We weren’t going to give €200m or €150m – we decided to step away from such an expensive market, our offer was less than €100m, with add-ons it could have reached €120m.”
Liverpool deny they requested a €200m transfer fee later that day.
21 Dec: Coutinho’s representatives supposedly agree a £200,000-a-week contract with Barcelona.
The five-year deal will see Coutinho become one of Barca’s best-paid players.
His agents now need to convince Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group to sell up.
30 Dec: Nike accidentally publish a promotion for Barcelona players to buy a shirt with Coutinho’s name on the back. Neither Nike nor Barca comment on the leak.
31 Dec: Express Sport understands a £125m deal could be brokered between Liverpool and Barcelona – and that Coutinho may remain on Merseyside until the end of the season.
2018
1 Jan: January transfer window opens and Coutinho has an unexpected thigh injury, ruling himself out of the game at Burnley.
2 Jan: Reports that Coutinho has gone on strike surface.
5 Jan: Catalan newspaper Sport claim Liverpool and Barcelona agree on £142m fee with £122m being paid up front.
6 Jan: AS suggest Coutinho has said goodbye to Liverpool team-mates.
6 Jan: The deal is done and Liverpool are poised to officially announce the move.