Barcelona director Robert Fernandez says Philippe Coutinho made "a big effort" to join Barcelona this summer, even though the La Liga club ultimately failed to complete a deal for the Brazilian international.
Liverpool knocked back 4 bids from Barca for the player this summer, despite the fact that Coutinho handed in a transfer request in August in order to push the move through. Barca director Fernandez thanked the player for his efforts.
"I am not going to explain the negotiations that took place but I will say what the situation was at the end: the €200m Liverpool said [he could go for]. Logically, we did not accept that. We want to thank the player for making an effort – because he did make a big effort – to come here.
"He showed that he wanted to come. But in the end it is over now and we can’t say any more than that. We could have signed two players for €270m each – and we could have – but then we would have to resign for being irresponsible. We’re not going to be drawn into that game."
