Unsettled Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho has handed in a transfer request, just a few hours after the English Premier League club released a press statement saying the Brazilian is not for sale.
The 25-year-old box to box midfielder had been a transfer target for FC Barcelona who seeks a replacement for Neymar Jr who joined PSG last week.
The Catalan club submitted two offers believed to be £70m and £90m, which were turned down by the Merseyside club, who afterward released a press statement warning FC Barcelona to keep off their star attacker.
Earlier, the Anfield club’s legend Steven Gerrard had said the unsettled Coutinho would have to begin a ‘war’ to leave Anfield Stadium for the Camp Nou this summer transfer window.
According to a report published by UK’s Mirror, the Brazilian is angry at the Red’s refusal to accept FC Barcelona’s offer for him.
“Philippe (Coutinho) has tried very hard to find an amicable solution to this situation at the club, but to no avail,” the publication cited a family member as saying.
“He (Coutinho) has tremendous love for the club (Liverpool) and its fans.
“But like club legend Steven Gerrard and Barcelona’s Luis Suarez have shown in the past, the Reds does not let its footballers leave the club on amicably.”
