Ronald de Boer claims Messi is responsible for Coutinho’s problems at Barcelona
- Ronald de Boer believes Coutinho will not do well at Barcelona because of Messi
- The Netherlands legend says Barca’s pattern focuses solely on the Argentine
- Coutinho completed a massive €160 million move to the Catalan side back in 2018
Former Netherlands star Ronald de Boer has claimed that Lionel Messi is responsible for Phillipe Coutinho’s failure at Barcelona, Sports Bible reports.
Coutinho completed a massive €160 million move to the Catalan side back in 2018 for him to become the second most expensive player in the world at the time.
However, the Brazilian has failed to impress at the La Liga club since arriving from Liverpool and has been sent on loan to Bundesliga side Bayern Munich.
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The Spanish club are looking to see off the Brazilian and ensuring he moves to the German club permanently.
"I think Coutinho was a player where everything [went through] him, every ball went to him at Liverpool," De Boer told talkSPORT per Liverpool Echo.
"He could probably do less work, basically what Messi does with Barcelona.
"And the thing is you see how everything works together, it's like a machine.
"If one is not doing it it's fine maybe, they can handle that, but if it's two similar types of players, that they also want every ball and have that special position in the team, then you see how vulnerable a team can be.
"I think we saw that with Barcelona. There's only one that can do that now and that is Messi."
"It sometimes doesn't fit your style of play and sometimes you have bad luck, not bad luck, that Messi's around and he has that role, and then you have to do a different role that doesn't suit you a little bit.”
Legit.ng earlier reported that Barcelona forward Phillipe Coutinho could have his Catalan nightmare come to an end as the Brazilian is linked to a stunning return to the Premier League.
EPL's top four chasers Chelsea are believed to be in pole position to land the 27-year old, who spent last season on loan in Germany with Bayern Munich.
His big money move to Barcelona from Liverpool looked like the real deal back in 2018, but he found it difficult to adjust to the football life in Spain.
Because of his hefty wages and the money it took to bring him to Spain (£145million), Barcelona find it difficult to immediately sell the Brazilian, with loan deals the only plausible options at the moment.
Reports from Spanish outlet Sport indicate that Premier League side Chelsea are willing to take up the services of Coutinho, who spent a large chunk of his career with Liverpool.
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Source: Legit.ng
