Philippe Coutinho missed training as Liverpool returned to Melwood on Tuesday but there are no fears over his attitude as Barcelona circle.
Liverpool remain “adamant” that they will be holding onto Philippe Coutinho this summer, according to James Pearce of the Liverpool ECHO.
The Reds have been forced to fend off interest from Catalan giants FC Barcelona after the Spanish club sold Coutinho’s countryman Neymar JR. to Paris Saint Germain for a world record transfer earlier this month.
Reports emerging from Spain claim that the playmaker is close to joining the Catalan club who want him signed as soon as possible and available to make his debut against Real Madrid on Sunday.
However, the ECHO reports that senior Anfield officials are maintaining that no talks have taken place and that their position on the player’s future remains unchanged. He will not be sold at any price during this transfer window.
Pearce reports that Coutinho did not report to training on Tuesday but was instead at Melwood to receive further treatment on a back complaint that kept him out of the club’s final pre-season fixture against Athletic Club Bilbao on Saturday.
The ECHO supposedly understands that should a deal be agreed between the two clubs then Coutinho would be happy to go but that the Brazilian will not actively force his way out of the club.
The publication reports that the Reds’ no.10 “doesn’t want to disrespect Liverpool who gave him the platform to really launch his career in Europe.”
Coutinho joined the Reds from Inter Milan back in 2013 and became an instant hit on Merseyside. He has scored 34 goals and assisted a further 29 since.
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