By Daily Sports on May 9, 2019

Philippe Coutinho is “not a Barcelona player” and will be the first casualty of their shambolic Champions League exit to Liverpool, while the board are set to meet to decide coach Ernesto Valverde’s fate, sources have told ESPN FC.

Sources also confirmed that a number of the coaching staff are disappointed with Coutinho’s performances this season. The Brazilian is the club’s record signing at €160 million but his displays against his former side across both legs of the semifinal strengthened the idea that his time at Camp Nou is up.

“Coutinho is not a Barcelona player, that’s been made clear,” a club source told ESPN FC.

The ex-Liverpool playmaker started the season well but his form and confidence have fallen off a cliff since an injury in October. He’s been unable to re-find his best form since and the source bemoaned that “he has added nothing. He will leave in the summer.”

ESPN FC first revealed in March that Barcelona were ready to listen to offers north of €105m for Coutinho and his performances against Liverpool have done nothing to change their plans. He was taken off before the hour mark in both matches, jeered by Barca fans last week and Liverpool supporters on Tuesday. The Catalan club made a huge effort to sign him but there’s now an acknowledgment that things have not worked out.

While the reaction in the heat of the moment has seen Coutinho singled out inside the club, the board, headed by president Josep Maria Bartomeu, will try to deal with the fallout from the Liverpool loss in the coming days in a more cool-headed manner. (ESPN)

•Photo shows Coutinho

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 9, 2019

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