Gerard Pique Would Welcome Liverpool Star with Open Arms
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says that he would welcome Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho with open arms.
Coutinho move to Liverpool in the summer of 2013 for around £ 8.3 million from Inter Milan. He was regarded as a promising Brazilian talent but who appeared to have lost his way at the Italian club. Liverpool seemed to be taking a major gamble, but it is a gamble that has paid off unlike any other.Coutinhohas become one of the best players at Liverpool, and he recently signed a new long-term contract that made him the highest earning player at the club.
He is on a contract worth around £150,000 per week, which would easily be topped at other clubs like Manchester City, Barcelona or Real Madrid. It seems to have been the primary basis behindseveral transfer rumours surrounding Coutinho in the last few weeks. After being injured for more than a month,Coutinho return to first-team action in the EFL Cup loss against Southampton. Still only 24 years old,Coutinhocould be a potential replacement for Lionel Messi should Barcelona lose him under any circumstance.
There are lot of rumours about Messi’s future at the club considering that he has just under 18 months left on his existing contract.
An incredibly gifted player,Coutinho is capable of playing for Barcelona, according to Pique.”This is a job for Robert Fernandez, the technical secretary, but obviously we would welcome all great players with open arms if they come.As far as the needs of the team go, other people take care of that,” said Pique. Barcelona have been relatively quiet in the transfer window over the last couple of seasons. It appears that the squad is in a major need of revamp after struggling to maintain the incredible levels of consistency seen under the days of Pep Guardiola.