Coutinho, an issue for Barcelona and Xavi

"There's no point". According to TV3, that was what Philippe Coutinho said to Sergi when Ansu suffered an injury and the coach ordered the Brazilian to start warming up. That reponse from the former Liverpool player were not ignored. In the end Sergi decided not to bring the player on during the half-time interval (he opted for Alejandro Balde instead) and Coutinho didn't play a single minute of the game.

When he arrived in Brazil to join up with the national team squad, Coutinho denied that his behaviour was not very professional, but TV3 report that his insolence hasn't gone down well in the dressing room. That is the last thing that Coutinho needs as up until now, he has always felt protected by his team mates and now that faith has been broken.

Coutinho called up by Brazil

Barça are keen to offload Coutinho, who is under contract until 2023, but finding a club who would be willing to take him won't be simple. It's not only the fact that no club is prepared to meet his wage demands - it's also that there is no interest to take a player who is performing way below par. It is surprising that despite his poor performances out on the pitch, Tite called him up for the recent World Cup qualifiers. And while the Brazil coach has protected Countinho, arguing that he is still an elite player who needs playing time to get back to the kind of form he showed during his time an Anfield, he didn't play him in the games against Colombia or Argentina.