Coutinho: agent denies PSG reports, says he'll stay at Barça
The agent of the Barcelona midfielder has quashed speculation that he has been in contact with PSG and ruled out his exit from Camp Nou.
Philippe Coutinho will not be leaving Barcelona this summer, according to his agent Kia Joorabchian, who has contradicted recent reports linking him with a move to PSG.
On Wednesday, Catalan daily Sport claimed that the Brazilian midfielder was happy to move to PSG to be one of the two players the French club is reportedly demanding from Barcelona, along with around 130 million euros, in exchange for Neymar.
Sport also reported that Coutinho’s agent has been in talks with PSG sporting director Leonardo for several weeks now. However, Joorabchian himself has denied these claims in an interview with French outlet RMC Sport, saying: "We have not had any contact with PSG."
Barcelona don’t want to sell Coutinho - agent
"I talked a few days ago with Pep Segura [general manage] at Barcelona," Joorabchian told RMC Sport. "He told me that the club does not want to sell Coutinho this summer, no matter what."
Since joining Barça for 145 million euros in January, 2018, the ex-Liverpool attacking midfielder has not made the impact at Camp Nou that was expected of his price tag; and was even the subject of jeering by Barcelona fans towards the end of last season on the back his poor performances.
The 27-year-old has also been linked with Manchester United and former club Liverpool. But if his agent’s comments are be to be believed, it seems that Coutinho will be staying put at Barcelona, where he would likely fall further down the pecking order with coach Ernesto Valverde should the club end up signing his compatriot Neymar.