Barcelona news: Messi has big reason for wanting Coutinho

 

Barcelona have been extremely aggressive in their pursuit of Phillipe Coutinho. With Barcelona set to pursue him again in January, Lionel Messi has a big reason for wanting Coutinho to sign up with the Blaugrana.

Despite three failed attempts at signing the Brazilian star, Barcelona are looking to sign Phillipe Coutinho again this coming January. Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic both remarked their frustrations over the interest to club management, but the club appears intent on pushing forward with their pursuit.
Andres Iniesta has been as big a player in this equation as Coutinho himself. Barcelona did hand him the luxury of a lifetime contract, meaning he can stay with the club until he decides to leave. Such an honor from Barcelona was extremely well deserved for Iniesta, but as the thirty-three-year-old descends further into the twilight of his career, Barcelona are beginning to look for possible long-term replacements.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have been the team’s two primary goal scorers since the departure of Neymar. While the signing of Ousmane Dembele was unquestionably impactful, Barcelona have been looking to add Coutinho to further improve their attack and begin to groom their long-term replacement for Iniesta.
Barcelona has been rumored to be considering saving Iniesta for their largest and most significant European matches, which would also save him for some of the larger national team appearances, with the World Cup less than a year away.
Even though Coutinho would be cupped given the presence in the Champions League for Barcelona, Lionel Messi should be urging his team to sign Coutinho. Barcelona is in need of a faster, younger midfielder who can bring support from the midfield and take some of the pressure off of Suarez and Messi.
Manager Ernesto Valverde has massive shoes to fill after stepping in for Luis Enrique, who did a spectacular job at the helm of Barcelona. Valverde would be thrilled to add Coutinho, who could help Barcelona in the short-term by adding an attacking presence from behind the strikers while also being mentored by the legendary Iniesta.
For now, Barcelona will charge forward without Coutinho and continue to ride Iniesta. But this coming January Barcelona will be in hot pursuit of the Brazilian midfielder with the hopes of adding their next midfield star.