Philippe Coutinho

[little dave hedgehog]

Also because Barca or Real are the Holy Grail for South American footballers.

til barca and real are a magic cup.

[Bender]

Barca might go for Coutinho sooner rather than later now Neymar is being done for tax avoidance

[ChesterDave]

Don't see that being a trigger. Neymar won't go to jail for it.

[Leyton388]

We need to stop selling our best players as soon as they have one or two good seasons. Get him tied down to a long term contract, win the league or at least go into next season with CL football. **** Barca and Real.

We have the manager now let's develop the team and add quality instead of selling.

[fowlen]

We need to stop selling our best players as soon as they have one or two good seasons. Get him tied down to a long term contract, win the league or at least go into next season with CL football. **** Barca and Real.

We have the manager now let's develop the team and add quality instead of selling.

The problem is that Real and Barca are arguably the two biggest teams in the world. Once a player has their head turned by either of these two I think it's only a matter of time until they are part of the team.

Hopefully we do win the league or finish top 4 because that is probably our only hope of keeping him. If we don't then we need to negotiate a ridiculous fee. I am confident that Coutinho will still be playing for us in 12 months though

[Fosterbloke]

The problem is that Real and Barca are arguably the two biggest teams in the world. Once a player has their head turned by either of these two I think it's only a matter of time until they are part of the team.

[The_weatherman]

Barca might go for Coutinho sooner rather than later now Neymar is being done for tax avoidance

What is it with Barca players and tax avoidance?

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

What is it with Barca players and tax avoidance?

I read something a while back that hinted at the reason being the whole Catalonia/Spain thing, I'm really not sure if there is anything in it and I can't recall the source. Anyway it was kind of interesting, it was saying that the club and players aren't overly keen in paying taxes to a country they don't feel a part of or that have been pumping tax payers money back into Real Madrid over the years.

[The_weatherman]

I read something a while back that hinted at the reason being the whole Catalonia/Spain thing, I'm really not sure if there is anything in it and I can't recall the source. Anyway it was kind of interesting, it was saying that the club and players aren't overly keen in paying taxes to a country they don't feel a part of or that have been pumping tax payers money back into Real Madrid over the years.

Risky business that.

[Angryred]

Risky business that.

It sure is, it shows the dissent from Barcelona/Catalonia have towards the establishment in Spain!

[dom9]

Particularly from the South American players.

[ChesterDave]

I can't imagine the Catalonians are the only footballers dodging taxes. The cynic in my thinks the Spanish Government is more eager to pursue them than players based in the capital.

[Charly]

Seems the whole world is in danger of devolving into tribalism

[Kenneth]

I read something a while back that hinted at the reason being the whole Catalonia/Spain thing, I'm really not sure if there is anything in it and I can't recall the source. Anyway it was kind of interesting, it was saying that the club and players aren't overly keen in paying taxes to a country they don't feel a part of or that have been pumping tax payers money back into Real Madrid over the years.

Good theory but kind of falls down with Neymar as it's Brazilian authorities who are charging him, not the Spanish.

[fidget]

Scored a belter first half for Brazil