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Philippe Coutinho: Liverpool deny Barcelona claim that Reds wanted £183m

By Mandeep SangheraBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section European Footballcomments1024

Philippe Coutinho
Philippe Coutinho signed a new five-year contract in January

Liverpool have denied Barcelona's claim that they wanted 200m euros (£183m) for playmaker Philippe Coutinho.

Barcelona director Albert Soler said the Reds put that valuation on the Brazilian on the final day of the Spanish transfer window on Friday.

Liverpool turned down three offers from the Spanish side for Coutinho, who had made a transfer request, and maintain the 25-year-old was not for sale.

The Anfield club regard Barcelona's claim as "absolutely false".

"Liverpool were asking for 200m and logically we didn't accept that," said Soler at a news conference on Saturday.

"We thank the player for the efforts he made, because he did make a big effort and showed he wanted to play for us.

"The situation ended as it ended and there is nothing else we can do."

Barcelona wanted Coutinho after selling his Brazil team-mate Neymar to Paris St-Germain for a world record fee of £200m.

Liverpool said Coutinho was not for sale and rejected bids of £72m, £90m and one in the region of £114m prior to the deadline in Spain, which closed a day later than in England.

Coutinho, who scored 14 goals last season and spent six weeks out with an ankle injury, signed a new five-year deal at Anfield in January which did not include a release clause.

He then said he wanted to leave via email, a day before the Reds opened their Premier League campaign at Watford on 12 August.

A back injury has forced him to miss all three top-flight games this season and the two legs of a Champions League qualifier against TSG Hoffenheim, which the Reds won 6-3 on aggregate.

However, the midfielder made his first appearance of the season when he played for Brazil in a 2-0 win over Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday, scoring the second goal.

'Countries have become the main agents in the football world'

When asked about the £183m asking price, Soler said Barcelona "don't want to get caught up in such an inflated market" and "we won't put the club at risk".

Uefa has opened a formal investigation into PSG as part of its "ongoing monitoring" of clubs under Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

PSG have been owned by the Gulf state of Qatar, via its Qatar Sports Investments fund, since 2011.

The French club more than doubled the world record transfer fee by signing Neymar. They have also signed striker Kylian Mbappe on loan from Monaco and could pay £165.7m for him in 2018.

"PSG came to us with 222m euros [for Neymar] and that meant everyone knew we had money," said Soler.

"When you go to the market and you have a lot of money, the demands made of you are extortionate.

"We found ourselves in unbelievable situations."

Barcelona signed forward Ousmane Dembele Borussia Dortmund for an initial £96.8m on 28 August, potentially rising to £135.5m, in addition to bringing in Nelson Semedo, Gerard Deulofeu and Paulinho.

Soler added: "What has happened in the market this year takes us to a model of football different to the one we are used to.

"We used to be the ones that led the market and now countries and investment funds are leading it. Countries have become the main agents in the football world."

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1024 comments

  • Comment posted by Argent Pur, at 12:28 2 Sep 2017

    You could turn that quote around..
    "Barcelona were asking 200m for Neymar and logically we couldn't believe PSG accepted it"

    Liverpool just turned this stupid market on it's head and threw it right back in Barcelona's face. Good for them.

  • Comment posted by Vox Populi, at 12:34 2 Sep 2017

    What this is really about is English Premier League clubs at last standing up to Real Madrid and Barcelona and their sense of entitlement/tapping up tactics. Man Utd and Liverpool let Ronaldo and Suarez go, they have resisted over De Gea and Coutinho and this is good news for our league. I applaud Liverpool for their stance.

  • Comment posted by el padron, at 12:29 2 Sep 2017

    Classless from Barca releasing this information

  • Comment posted by Son of Mud, at 12:30 2 Sep 2017

    The shocking thing here is that a player who signed a new contract that pays him ridiculously well is being thanked by a club that tried to bully the club he committed his future to for effectively throwing his toys out of the pram. Well done to Liverpool for refusing to give in and same to Southampton. Perhaps this is the start of a reboot of the transfer market that is biased to 'big' clubs

  • Comment posted by MikeSimplex, at 12:25 2 Sep 2017

    crazy money in football these days. So why are fans not getting reduced ticket prices?

    Ive reached the point I hope it all goes pear shaped and crashes...

  • Comment posted by time for tea, at 12:23 2 Sep 2017

    Why not? They didn't have to sell him and Barca were desperate the little sulky pants needs to get his head down and do what Suarez did give it his best they will come calling again

  • Comment posted by Honeybadger, at 12:23 2 Sep 2017

    Really? 12 months ago he would have been 40m tops. That said Barcelona acted the bully boy and they got what they deserved.

  • Comment posted by User0780828922, at 12:30 2 Sep 2017

    Well the stupid money started when UEFA never stopped he Neymar deal. Now it's all fantasy football prices and can't blame Liverpool for playing the game. Basically a hands off but if you'res stupid enough to bite we'll take.

  • Comment posted by deano123, at 12:28 2 Sep 2017

    Grombleton @ 7

    Well done to Liverpool for not being held to ransom by these over inflated bully boys.

  • Comment posted by scooter6849, at 12:30 2 Sep 2017

    If you want to sign our best player who has just signed a five year contract, prepare to dig deep

  • Comment posted by Random Guy, at 12:42 2 Sep 2017

    Not a fan of Liverpool but like the way they have handled this.

  • Comment posted by Cheers of a Clown, at 13:41 2 Sep 2017

    From a Manchester United supporter, well done to LFC for holding their position. Barcelona are complete hypocrites, they constantly take the moral high ground on many issues and yet they are happy to unsettle players from other clubs.

  • Comment posted by valjester, at 13:37 2 Sep 2017

    'When asked about the £183m asking price, Soler said Barcelona "don't want to get caught up in such an inflated market."'

    Er...your sale of Neymar is arguably the primary catalyst in the inflated market you purport to condemn. What you really mean is, 'We're happy to take the money but we won't pay it out.' Diddums.

  • Comment posted by Melomorphox, at 12:30 2 Sep 2017

    Well done Liverpool!

  • Comment posted by LG, at 12:28 2 Sep 2017

    @7 Not being held to ransom? They were offering upwards of £100m and signed dembele for a similar amount! Whether Liverpool thought he was worth that or not, they did not want to sell, hence the ridiculous price tag.

  • Comment posted by Muchaboutnothing, at 12:30 2 Sep 2017

    Credit to Liverpool. There are many ways to say: HE IS NOT FOR SALE!!!!

  • Comment posted by One and Only Utd, at 12:21 2 Sep 2017

    Blimey if Liverpool value Coutinho at that, how much is Mane worth?

  • Comment posted by DaveR, at 12:32 2 Sep 2017

    Andy Carrol only cost Liverpool £35m because they were desperate to replace Torres - and Newcastle knew Liverpool had £50m to spend. Boot's on the other foot when Liverpool know Barca are desperate to replace Neymar and they have 220m Euros to spend. Well done for holiding out.

  • Comment posted by D1679410321105, at 13:13 2 Sep 2017

    Barca = "don't want to get caught up in such an inflated market".. Oh really?

    I didn't hear Barca complaining about inflated markets when PSG gave them £200m
    for Neymar.

    Barcelona are a hypocritical, unscrupulous and disingenuous club.
    They didn't get their own way with Neymar and they didn't get their own way with Coutinho.

    Beaten at their own game and now crying about it

  • Comment posted by Chris M, at 14:29 2 Sep 2017

    Liverpool made it clear from day one that Coutinho was not for sale. Asking for 200 million euros was just another way of telling Barcelona to F**k off. He was never for sale Barcelona so stop whinging.