Coutinho transfer news 2017

A big transfer saga!

In 2017, Philippe Coutinho was heavily linked with a move away from Liverpool to Barcelona. Here's a summary of the transfer news:

January 2017: Coutinho's agent, Andreas Borga, confirms that the player has a release clause in his contract that can be activated by Barcelona for £128 million (€150 million).

February 2017: Liverpool's manager, Jürgen Klopp, says that Coutinho is not for sale and that the club has no intention of letting him go.

March 2017: Barcelona's president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, confirms that the club is interested in signing Coutinho and that they are willing to pay his release clause.

May 2017: Coutinho's agent, Borga, says that the player has a "gentleman's agreement" with Liverpool that allows him to leave the club if a bid of £128 million is made.

June 2017: Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group, reject a £90 million bid from Barcelona for Coutinho.

August 2017: Coutinho hands in a transfer request to Liverpool, citing a desire to leave the club and join Barcelona.

August 2017: Liverpool rejects a second bid from Barcelona, worth £114 million, and Coutinho is left out of the team's squad for the opening game of the season.

January 2018: Coutinho finally leaves Liverpool and joins Barcelona in a deal worth £142 million (€160 million), making him the most expensive transfer in the club's history.

It was a long and dramatic transfer saga, but in the end, Coutinho got his wish and joined his childhood club, Barcelona.