Ronald Koeman is now at Barca and wants to bring some changes to the team. Obviously, among the plans, Coutinho will play an important role and it seems the Dutchman has already made his mind to use him next season, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Today Coutinho will play his last match for Bayern Munich that too against PSG at the Champions League final in Lisbon. Koeman will be closely watching Coutinho’s game today to make his mind to use or to use him in his squad for the upcoming season.
That’s why Koeman wants to speak personally with the playmaker after the final tonight to find out what his future plans are. The Brazilian has a contract with Barcelona until 2023 as a part of the record 120 million, plus another 40 million in different variables deal back in January 2018.
Even according to this deal Barcelona has to pay 5 million euros to Liverpool if he wins the Champions League today. That part aside, Bartomeu has already rested the decision on the coach this time and Koeman will ultimately decide his future.
Coutinho was never a winger but was a playmaking midfielder, a setup which Koeman uses in his formation. He never thrived as a left-winger and so he had been pushed to Bayern, also he lost his inner confidence due to Valverde, and the board’s no planning to use him at the Camp Nou.
The 27-year old had a mixed season for the German giants but his short cameo during the humiliating win against Barca has obviously given him some confidence for next season. Officially from tomorrow, Coutinho will be Barca player, so his today’s performance might be helpful to decide his stay at Barca.
Also, do note that, in this financial crisis selling Coutinho would be a tough job, so using a young player in the midfield would be a more sensible decision. If Bartomeu’s and Koeman’s understanding goes through then we might see the departure of Vidal and Rakitic soon, so to fill the gap a creative midfielder would be required.
Miralem Pjanic can be used in Koeman’s two holding midfielder setup and also the young Riqui Puig has earned his spot as a regular midfielder already. Now if Countinho comes in then the total setup would again bring the lost dynamism back to the Barca midfield.
Koeman has been a fan of Countinho ever since the Dutchman’s stay at Southampton and Everton, where he closely watched the Brazilian played his best form for Liverpool. Now, this will be an interesting avenue to see if Coutinho gets much deserved second chance with a proper role that he had been thriving, the Iniesta’s position for which he was signed upon. It all depends on Koeman and if Bayern wins today with Coutinho, there are chances to see the Brazilian back at Camp Nou.
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