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What’s the story?
Real Madrid and Barcelona are fighting to sign the best players in the world. When one club is chasing a player, the other follows up with a massive bid for him.
According to reports in Mundo Deportivo, the same thing happened with Philippe Coutinho. The Spanish publication claims that Los Blancos had tabled a £177 million bid for the Liverpool star but he had his heart set on a move to Barcelona.
In case you didn’t know…
Coutinho is set to be unveiled by Barcelona today after his medical is complete. The Brazilian has joined the Catalan side for a massive £142 million – the second most expensive transfer of all time.
He will eventually move to third on the list when Kylian Mbappe's transfer to Paris Saint-Germain is made a permanent one in the summer. The French wonderkid is on loan at the Ligue 1 side this season but they have a £168 million worth clause that can make the move permanent according to The Sun.
The heart of the matter
Real Madrid officials spoke with Philippe Coutinho's representatives regarding a move to Bernabeu last week according to Mundo Deportivo. The Spanish giants had made a very lucrative offer but were rebuffed by the player as he only wanted to join Barcelona.
The Catalan side then convinced Liverpool to sell him and the move was finally made official on Saturday. The Brazilian was at Camp Nou yesterday to witness his new side defeat Levante 3-0.
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Author’s Take
Coutinho is going to dominate La Liga and that is a well-known thing. The Brazilian has everything it takes to become a club legend and Real Madrid too identified that.
The move might come as a surprise to many but it makes complete sense. Firstly, they would have got hold of one of the best midfielders in the first. Second, they would have stolen a player from the jaws of Barcelona – a psychological advantage straight away.
