Coach Klopp has repeatedly stressed that for more than 7 months, he has always tried every way to keep Philippe Coutinho. However, the German coach could not resist the temptation of the offer of up to 145 million pounds that Barca had opened up to Liverpool.
Not only that, if looking back 5 years ago, The Kop only had to spend 8.5 million pounds to get the service of this midfielder. For American owners, a deal with a profit of about £ 140 million would of course sell.
With this contract, Coutinho has become the second most expensive player in the world after Neymar. Thus, all three of the most expensive contracts in history are related to the Nou Camp team: Neymar, Coutinho and Dembele.
"To be honest, it's all reluctance. The club had to say goodbye to a good player, a good personality and he was truly a man.
There is no secret about him coming to Barca. All the rumors have been circulating for about 7 months now since Barca opened up to us. Coutinho has always been determined to go to Barca and now that bad thing has come to the team.
The club and I have kept him through the summer transfer window and hope that at the beginning of the season, everyone can convince him to stay and be an indispensable part of the team. But things did not go as expected.
I assure the fans that Liverpool did everything they could but for Coutinho, perhaps his future, his family and career belong to Barca.
That is Coutinho's dream and we respect that," Klopp shared bitterly.
54 goals in 201 post-op matches for The Kop along with great contributions, it is not difficult to understand why Klopp felt so sorry to lose his student. But since the Neymar deal to PSG at an unimaginable price, every rule in the transfer market is now meaningless.
"There will be people coming, there will be people leaving, that is football. But no matter how, the team is still developing and moving forward even though for now, we no longer have an important player.
We have not achieved what we want yet, but I have been here long enough to understand how great Liverpool are. No matter who leaves, the club continues its journey," Klopp shared.
Barca has not yet officially posted a photo of Coutinho signing with them, the price of this deal ranges from 145-167 million pounds.
