Coutinho signs for Barcelona

CAIRO – 7 January 2018: Barcelona announced on Saturday that Brazilian winger Philippe Coutinho has signed a five-year contract with the club.

Coutinho, 25, joined Barcelona from Liverpool for €120 million ($144 million) and €40 million related to the player’s performance, making him the most expensive player in the history of the club.

Coutinho, born in Brazil, started his journey with the game when he was seven, and his talent was massive, so Inter Milan signed him when he was just 15 for €4 million.

Inter Milan loaned Coitinho to Vasco De Gama and he played his first game with the club’s first team when he was just 17.

Inter Milan then loaned Coutinho in 2011 to Barcelona’s local rivals, Espanyol, where he played 16 games.

Coutinho’s greatest spell was with Liverpool. He joined the club in 2013 and since then established himself as a starting player for the team for four years.

Coutinho will be able to support Barcelona only in domestic competitions, as he played in the UEFA Champions League this season with Liverpool and the rules prevent him from playing for two teams in one season.