Philippe Coutinho will ruin his career by going to Barcelona
Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Ronaldinho and Philippe Coutinho. Spot the odd one out.
FC Barcelona is a club of footballing legends. It has housed the icons of the game and seen the very men who've changed the face of our sport don their jersey with pride.
From the days of Paulino Alcantara in the early 1900s, right up to today and a certain Lionel Messi, the Catalan club has always been host to the world's greatest.
Sadly, one of them has just upped sticks and left.
And, naturally, it's going to take another legend of the modern game to replace him.
Step forward Philippe Coutinho. That doesn't sound quite right. In fact, it's pretty uninspiring.
Going from Neymar to Coutinho has to be one of football's greatest ever downgrades, and it's happening at one of the world's greatest ever clubs.
Advert
Today, the 25 year old Brazilian reportedly handed in a transfer request - following the most adamant statement that no such thing would ever happen - and we fear we're about to witness something horrific.
He may have jinky feet, but the boots of football's future king are big ones to fill. There are very few out there who ever could. So why on earth Philippe Coutinho thinks that he's the man to do so is beyond us.
Liverpool are not Barcelona. Many moons ago, maybe they were close. But today they're more of a Southampton or Deportivo. With greyer skies and a prettier history.
What makes it worse is that the fella isn't just trying to fit his way into arguably the world's top squad, but he's trying to do it as a replacement for one of the world's top players.
Advert
Hasn't Coutinho learned his lesson with Brazil? He's always going to be a peg or two below his counterpart. Not because Coutinho isn't a world class footballer, but because Neymar is in that elite and special league above.
Liverpool fans dub him the next big thing, of course they do. But they've been watching Charlie Adam and Dirk Kuyt for years. Those in Catalonia have been watching Andrés Iniesta and Xavi.
That's two very different kettles of fish.
It's a shame, because the Brazilian is absolutely top. But he's not Neymar and he never will be.
Advert
Image: PA
Barcelona can pay whatever they want for him but it won't disguise the fact that he'll never be good enough for them. Coutinho, no matter what he sees himself as, will always be Liverpool's golden boy.
And if this move goes through, he'll simply become the whipping boy for the Spanish press instead.
We don't want to see it. But money talks in global football and sadly it's governing this situation.
Advert
Neymar will never be replaced. Coutinho's career will never be saved. And Liverpool will go back to battling for the Europa League. Again.
What depressing facts. Don't go, Phil. Don't be a mug.
Words by Ben Mountain - @ben_mountain1
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Liverpool, Coutinho, Barcelona
