Philippe Coutinho vows to return ‘better and stronger’ from knee injury that has sidelined him since December as Brazil star battles to reclaim fitness and resurrect his Barcelona career
- Philippe Coutinho has not played for since December following a knee injury
- The 28-year-old Barcelona and Brazil star went under the knife in January
- But after further complications, Coutinho had a second surgery in April
- That has all but ruled him out of the season but he has now offered an update
Philippe Coutinho is ‘convinced’ he will return better and stronger from his knee injury as he continues his recovery and resurrect his Barcelona career.
The 28-year-old Brazilian has not played for club or country since suffering a serious meniscus problem against Eibar in December, for which he went under the knife a month later and was scheduled to be out for another three months.
The former Liverpool star now however looks unlikely to feature again this season after travelling to his home country at the end of last month for a second operation on the issue.
Philippe Coutinho is ‘convinced’ he will return better and stronger from his knee injury
The Brazilian has not played for club or country since suffering a serious meniscus problem against Eibar in December
But now posting on Instagram, Coutinho has offered an update on his recovery, which he admitted has been ‘slow’, but is confident his patience and dedication will be rewarded when he does return, although no timescale has been provided following his second surgery.
‘Every day is a new battle which demands my best!’ Coutinho wrote on Instagram.
‘The recovery is slow, it requires patience and dedication. Challenges always motivate me.
‘I am working hard and I am convinced that I will return to the best of my ability doing what I love the most.
‘GOD is with me and I am sure those who love me and my work are too! Thanks for all the positivity sent.’
Coutinho featured 14 times for his club this campaign, having been a regular under Ronald Koeman for the first half of the season.
The midfielder is also facing a battle to be fit for Brazil’s Copa America campaign this summer, while his fitness issues could derail any plans Barcelona have of selling him in the next transfer window.
The Brazil international is reportedly one player Camp Nou chiefs are keen to sell, and has most recently been linked with a move to Everton given the two clubs’ excellent relationship built up through deals for Andre Gomes and Lucas Digne.
He has had two operations and there is no timescale when he could return for Ronald Koeman
But reports earlier this month claimed Barcelona will not be the only club to suffer because of Coutinho’s injury, with Liverpool set to miss out on a £17million transfer windfall.
One of the add-on fees stipulated in Coutinho’s contract requires Barcelona to pay Liverpool £17m if Coutinho makes 100 appearances for the Catalan giants.
He is just 10 games short of reaching that milestone, but his injury issues are now increasingly likely to see the Reds miss out on receiving the specified sum.
Coutinho has struggled at Camp Nou since his £142million move from Anfield in 2018, scoring 23 goals and recording 14 assists from his 90 appearances, while also spending last season out on loan at Bayern Munich.
The 28-year-old is now in a race against time to be fit for the Copa America this summer
