The drama was supposed to be over. After a summer or rumor and speculation over a Philippe Coutinho transfer to Barcelona, the transfer window closed and Coutinho remained at Liverpool. And all signs pointed to an end to the drama. In fact, when Coutinho returned to training, he and manager Jurgen Klopp met in what was described as a good meeting. Coutinho was all smiles in his return and the manager was happy to have his play-maker back in the fold. But if this latest rumor is true, there may be no turning back in the relationship between Coutinho and Liverpool.
A report out of Spain is claiming that Philippe Coutinho and his camp are considering informing Liverpool that Coutinho will not play for the club in the Champions League. That's right, Coutinho may refuse to play for Liverpool.
Why would Coutinho refuse to play and why specifically the Champions League? It all comes back to Barcelona. Even when the window closed, Coutinho's dream still remained of a move to Barcelona. He realizes it didn't happen but still wants it to happen and still thinks it will happen. And, apparently he thinks and or wants it to happen in the upcoming winter transfer window.
So why not just play and prove his worth until the window opens? That's simple. The rules of the Champions League dictate that a player can only play for one club in a single season for the competition. What that means is if Coutinho were to play for Liverpool on Wednesday against Sevilla and then be transferred to Barcelona in the winter market he would not be eligible to play for Barcelona in the Champions League.
The thinking from the Coutinho camp is that if he is not available for Barcelona this season, then Barcelona would have no reason to make the transfer happen during the winter window and would instead wait for the next summer window. Coutinho wants the move to happen, and to happen this year so he feels sitting out and maintaining his eligibility in the Champions League would be more appealing to Barcelona.
Hopefully this is all rumor. Hopefully, Klopp has Coutinho on the roster for the game on Wednesday and Coutinho makes a return for Liverpool at some point during the game. Hopefully the drama is truly over. But, if Coutinho is not named to the Liverpool squad, the relationship between Coutinho and Liverpool, his teammates, his manager, and the supporters, will be permanently destroyed.