Barcelona continue to be linked with a summer move for Liverpool attacker Philippe Coutinho, and new reports in Spain suggest that Lionel Messi is desperate for the Catalan club to seal the deal.
According to Spanish newspaper Don Balon:
* Messi has insisted that Barcelona sign a 'world-class' midfielder this summer, and his choices are Verratti or Coutinho.
* The Argentine maestro wants someone in behind the line of forwards to replace Andres Iniesta.
Neymar - who is close friends with Coutinho - will be happy to hear this news. Over the last year, the Brazilian has publicly exhorted Barca to sign Coutinho on SIX separate occasions.
Neymar is not the only one engaging in quasi-tapping-up: the likes of Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and Xavi have also urgied Coutinho to quit Anfield for the Nou Camp, and Messi's alleged plea may be the final push needed for Coutinho to demand a transfer this summer.
That said, Don Balon's claim contradicts a recent report in Diario Gol, which claimed that Messi is 'opposed' to Barcelona signing Coutinho as it will grant Neymar more 'power' at the club.
If Diario Gol's report is true, Messi appears to be monumentally insecure, self-absorbed, and irredeemably petty. Who knew? Of course, this story is in all likelihood BS (or, at the very least, exaggerated), but even if Barca pull out of the deal, Coutinho is bound to have four or five top clubs after him this summer.
* Coutinho: Liverpool reportedly willing to sell for £70m. Hailed as 'amazing' by Joel Matip.
According to Spanish newspaper Don Balon:
* Messi has insisted that Barcelona sign a 'world-class' midfielder this summer, and his choices are Verratti or Coutinho.
* The Argentine maestro wants someone in behind the line of forwards to replace Andres Iniesta.
Neymar - who is close friends with Coutinho - will be happy to hear this news. Over the last year, the Brazilian has publicly exhorted Barca to sign Coutinho on SIX separate occasions.
Neymar is not the only one engaging in quasi-tapping-up: the likes of Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and Xavi have also urgied Coutinho to quit Anfield for the Nou Camp, and Messi's alleged plea may be the final push needed for Coutinho to demand a transfer this summer.
That said, Don Balon's claim contradicts a recent report in Diario Gol, which claimed that Messi is 'opposed' to Barcelona signing Coutinho as it will grant Neymar more 'power' at the club.
If Diario Gol's report is true, Messi appears to be monumentally insecure, self-absorbed, and irredeemably petty. Who knew? Of course, this story is in all likelihood BS (or, at the very least, exaggerated), but even if Barca pull out of the deal, Coutinho is bound to have four or five top clubs after him this summer.
* Coutinho: Liverpool reportedly willing to sell for £70m. Hailed as 'amazing' by Joel Matip.
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