Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he understands why star man Philippe Coutinho wanted to join Barcelona this summer. The Catalan club had three bids for the player rejected during the summer transfer window.
Coutinho put in a transfer request, despite signing a new deal in January. Liverpool held firm, but Klopp suggests there is an atmosphere of understanding around the club, due to the gravitas of Barcelona.
“Do I think that somebody could have (a problem)?” Klopp asked. “Most of them are friends for many years.
“There was nothing. We spoke about it and it has nothing to do with the team, that is very important for all of us, it is nothing to do with fans and all that stuff.
“100% if a club like Barcelona is around then nobody says ‘are you crazy, what do you want to go there for?’.
“Everyone has this little bit of understanding and think ‘okay, it’s Barcelona’ – it is not that he wants to go to Everton.
“Then it would have been different, I would say. (Everton are) another wonderful club but it’s a different situation.”