Former Liverpool striker, Craig Bellamy, said it is better for midfielder, Philippe Coutinho to stay at the Reds for a year and leave for Barcelona as Andres Iniesta’s replacement.
Bellamy feels Coutinho would be ill-suited to filling Neymar’s former role as a wide forward, and would be better waiting until Barca need to replace central midfielder Iniesta, possibly in 12 months’ time.
Barcelona have had a £90million move for Coutinho turned down by Liverpool, as the Catalan club look to spend the money received through Neymar’s move to PSG.
The Welsh said on Sky Sports, “I see Coutinho as a replacement for Iniesta, I don’t see him as a replacement for Neymar. At the present moment he would have to go out on the left, because Iniesta is still playing. At Liverpool he will get a central role.”
“I would say this year, stick it out. Barcelona will come back, they are not just one offs, and they usually get their way.
“This might be Iniesta’s last year. Coutinho then goes to Barcelona next year and plays a central role,” said the Pundit.
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