Liverpool star Coutinho's one doubt about signing for Barcelona
He's worried he may not be able to play in his natural position at Camp Nou
The Brazilian is yet to hear how Valverde will build his Barça side next season
Philippe Coutinho's future points to Camp Nou. The player's desire is to play for Barcelona and the club are interested. And the cracks normally end up where they so desire. Coutinho's entourage know perfectly what the player wants in his career. And several months ago Barça communicated their aspirations to his agent.
Coutinho has already lived in the Catalan capital, during a six month spell with Espanyol, and he loves the city as it's one of the most Brazilian in Europe. In addition, he's motivated by working on a daily basis with his two friends Neymar and Luis Suarez. He has known the former since an early age and played with the latter at Liverpool.
With the season over at Anfield, Coutinho is now thinking in Blaugrana. Without knowing new coach Ernesto Valverde's plans, he's already thinking where he will fit in. And that's where there is uncertainty.
His natural position is on the left side of midfield, with freedom to move around. That's where he has been such a success for Liverpool. He sees himself as a midfielder and not a forward. And at Barcelona that position is currently taken by captain Andres Iniesta.
CAN HE PLAY WITH Iniesta?
One of Luis Enrique's decisions over the last season has been to manage Iniesta's minutes so that he's fresh for the biggest games. At 33 and with a World Cup around the corner, Iniesta is destined to play an important role under Ernesto Valverde. It's here where Coutinho begins to wonder if he will be in the games against Real Madrid or in the latter stages of the Champions League. Those doubts have been shared with those closest to him.
With Brazil and Tite this debate does not exist. The Selecao coach told SPORT in an interview recently that he'd decided to use Coutinho on the opposite side. As he expected him to offer a similar role to Neymar, he placed him on the right. Coutinho accpeted it and has been a key player for his national team ever since.
Tite HAS THE SOLUTION
The 'Tite Solution' which Coutinho has accepted with Brazil could be an option to fit in all three members of the trident, plus Iniesta. That could be an option in the big games or even throughout the whole season. In theory, though, it wouldn't seem logical to have such an expensive signing playing out of position.
Coutinho defines himself as a midfielder who gets forward, which is how his two coaches currently see him: Jurgen Klopp with Liverpool and Tite with Brazil. Playing on the left of the midfield would allow him to link well with Neymar, although the two Brazilians end up drifting inside quite a lot in matches.
