Wright: Coutinho can’t turn Barcelona transfer down

Joe Williams

Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho must follow “the dream” and join Barcelona, according to ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright.

The Reds have reportedly turned down a bid of £72million with the latest reports claiming that the Catalan giants are confident that they will land Coutinho for £90million before the end of the transfer window.

And Wright, who was stunned by Neymar’s decision to leave, thinks Coutinho would be doing the right thing by leaving for the Camp Nou.

“I’m not saying that they want him to replace Neymar, because I don’t think he’s that player, but if they want you you’ve got to go,” Wright said on BBC 5 live sport.

“That’s the dream, that’s why I find it baffling that Neymar has gone, he was already at the main place for me.

“But Coutinho, he is fantastic and he will go to that next level if he goes and plays with that calibre of player. You can’t turn that down, you just can’t.”