01-08-2018, 11:18 AM
Philippe Coutinho has described his move from Liverpool to Barcelona as a “dream”.
The finishing touches have been put on the transfer, which could be worth up to £142m, and he will be paraded at the Camp Nou on Monday. The 25-year-old Brazil international, who watched his new side’s 3-0 win over Levante on Sunday, will perform a ceremonial signing of his contract at 11.30am GMT before a press conference.
“I’m very happy, very happy. I have always said that it is a dream that I am living and I am very happy to be here,” Coutinho told Barça TV. “To be able to play, win titles, make the fans happy … always play with joy. It is incredible to know that I am going to live with idols; players with a lot of history.
“Footballers like Leo Messi, Luis Suárez, [Andrés] Iniesta, [Gerard] Piqué, [Sergio] Busquets. I am very happy to be able to live together, to be able to learn from them and be able to win together.”
Having earlier been presented at a photocall, Coutinho posted a short video message on the Barcelona Twitter feed. He said: “Hi Barça fans. I am already here, it is a dream come true, and I hope to see you tomorrow.”
Coutinho is joining a team who are nine points clear at the top of La Liga and seemingly on the way to another title. Barcelona’s manager, Ernesto Valverde, is confident the playmaker, who joined Liverpool from Internazionale for £8.5m in January 2013, will prove to be a valuable addition to his star-studded squad.
“I think he can bring us a lot of things,” he said. “Coutinho scores goals, assists, he can play both inside and outside. I have seen him play in many positions both for Liverpool and in his national team.
“After taking a long break, he is already with us, we hope he will help us and we will wait to see him train for at least one day to assess his condition.”
The finishing touches have been put on the transfer, which could be worth up to £142m, and he will be paraded at the Camp Nou on Monday. The 25-year-old Brazil international, who watched his new side’s 3-0 win over Levante on Sunday, will perform a ceremonial signing of his contract at 11.30am GMT before a press conference.
“I’m very happy, very happy. I have always said that it is a dream that I am living and I am very happy to be here,” Coutinho told Barça TV. “To be able to play, win titles, make the fans happy … always play with joy. It is incredible to know that I am going to live with idols; players with a lot of history.
“Footballers like Leo Messi, Luis Suárez, [Andrés] Iniesta, [Gerard] Piqué, [Sergio] Busquets. I am very happy to be able to live together, to be able to learn from them and be able to win together.”
Having earlier been presented at a photocall, Coutinho posted a short video message on the Barcelona Twitter feed. He said: “Hi Barça fans. I am already here, it is a dream come true, and I hope to see you tomorrow.”
Coutinho is joining a team who are nine points clear at the top of La Liga and seemingly on the way to another title. Barcelona’s manager, Ernesto Valverde, is confident the playmaker, who joined Liverpool from Internazionale for £8.5m in January 2013, will prove to be a valuable addition to his star-studded squad.
“I think he can bring us a lot of things,” he said. “Coutinho scores goals, assists, he can play both inside and outside. I have seen him play in many positions both for Liverpool and in his national team.
“After taking a long break, he is already with us, we hope he will help us and we will wait to see him train for at least one day to assess his condition.”