Agent believes Barca representative Andre Cury has been touting Coutinho to other clubs
Saturday 13 July 2019 17:57, UK
Philippe Coutinho's agent Kia Joorabchian says he is getting mixed messages from Barcelona regarding the future of the Brazilian attacking midfielder.
Joorabchian says Barcelona have assured him they are not planning to sell Coutinho but claims he has also heard that his client is being offered to other clubs by a representative with close ties to the Catalan club.
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"The information from Barcelona is rather mixed," Joorabchian told Sky Sports News.
"We had a meeting last week with the president [Josep] Bartomeu and other directors, and they told us he was absolutely not for sale, that they have never spoken about the boy leaving, that they had never offered him to any club.
"Although there is a guy that works for them called Andre Cury, who apparently has been touting him about - but the president has told us he is categorically not for sale."
Coutinho joined Barcelona in a £142m deal from Liverpool in January 2018 but has found it difficult to win over the Blaugrana faithful.
He scored five goals and made three assists in 34 league appearances last season but was booed and heckled on a number of occasions by Barcelona fans.
The Brazil international still has many admirers in the Premier League but Joorabchian hinted a return to Liverpool is the only English move Coutinho would potentially consider.
"I think Liverpool lies very, very deeply in his heart," he said. "He was a big fan of them throughout the campaign [last season].
"He was wishing for them to win the title and he has a very strong affinity there so I think it will be very difficult for him to go to a direct competitor of Liverpool from a personal standpoint."
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