BARCELONA star Philippe Coutinho has come to a decision regarding a possible return to the Premier League with a season-long loan move to Arsenal.
Philippe Coutinho has no desire to leave Barcelona and join Arsenal on loan, according to reports in Spain.
Although the 27-year-old wants to stay at the Nou Camp, the club are reportedly exploring options to sell the player after poor performances last season for the Catalan giants.
Coutinho left Liverpool in January 2018 when Barcelona paid £142million to bring him to Spain, although the Brazilian has quickly fallen out of favour with many Barca fans after a disappointing last campaign.
He managed to only find the back of the net five times and in 34 La Liga appearances, while also chipping in with two assists and those numbers are considerably less than the other two players leading Barcelona’s front three – Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Messi finished the season with 36 goals and 13 assists in the league, while Suarez scored 21 times, while also providing six assists.
Although it is understood Barca are willing to move Coutinho on, according to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, the player would not be willing to join Arsenal.
The report also claims that while Barcelona would prefer a transfer over a loan deal, they would consider letting the player go on a season-long loan for around €25m (£23m) if it included a requirement for the club to sign the player at the end of the deal.
Mundo Deportivo also claim sources within the Arsenal camp have refuted the suggestion they are exploring the option of signing Coutinho on loan, which echoed a similar message from Coutinho’s personal team, who insist the attacking midfielder is focused on playing for Barca next season.
Both clubs met in a pre-season friendly on Sunday with Barca winning the game 2-1.
Arsenal got off to a great start thanks to a goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 36th minute and went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
However, after the break Gunners defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored a shocking own goal, as he managed to catch Bernd Leno out, when the youngster passed the ball straight into his own net.
With the game level and drawing to a close Suarez was brought off the bench by boss Ernesto Valverde and duly scored with a volley in the final moments to seal the victory for Barca.
Coutinho was named in the match-day squad but ended up being an unused substitute, along with Lionel Messi.
AFP
