Liverpool wanted €200m for Coutinho, so we walked away - say Barcelona

Barcelona have been discussing their failed pursuit of Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho and claim the Reds wanted €200 million for the Brazilian on deadline day.

The Blaugrana spent the summer chasing Coutinho only to miss out on their top target with Liverpool reluctant to sell, even though he had handed in a transfer request.

Following the close of the transfer window on Friday, Barcelona held a press conference where Albert Soler and Robert Fernandez discussed their transfer window.

"On Friday, after weeks of offers and talks, Liverpool put a price on the player that we wanted [Coutinho]," said Soler.

"A price of €200m and we decided we wouldn't do it. That's an example of the way football is now. This club and this board will not get involved in that, though.

“What's happened in the transfer market this summer has taken us to a totally different model of football which we're not used to."

Source | ESPN FC

Barcelona are obviously quite right not to spend €200m on Coutinho but Soler also insisted the club did not want to “play in this inflated market” - which is somewhat curious having already spent €105m (plus add ons) on Ousmane Dembele and €40m on Paulinho.