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.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
GETTY
Philippe Coutinho has agreed a £142m move to Barcelona
GETTY
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.”
GETTY
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.”
GETTY
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.