Just three-and-a-half years after Luis Suarez left Liverpool for Barcelona and history has already repeated itself.
Philippe Coutinho secured his £142 million move to the Camp Nou over the weekend – a transfer described by the player himself as a ‘dream come true’ – signing a five-and-half-year deal in one of the most expensive transfers of all time.
Liverpool fans, it’s fair to say, have mixed feelings about the Brazil international following his move to Barça.
While they can understand his desire to play alongside Lionel Messi and co. at one of the world’s biggest football clubs – a football club which seriously challenges for the most prestigious trophies every season – they feel he’s left their club in the lurch by leaving midway through the season.
Had Coutinho stayed until the end of the 2017-18 campaign, you sense the transfer wouldn’t have left such a bitter taste in the mouths of the Anfield faithful.
WHAT SUAREZ DID BEFORE COUTINHO’S MOVE TO BARCELONA
Liverpool fans still idolise Suarez, despite the fact he forced his way out of Anfield in the summer of 2014, but they’re not impressed after discovering what the Uruguayan forward did prior to Coutinho’s move to the Camp Nou.
It’s been revealed, by Coutinho himself, that Suarez ensured the 25-year-old had a permanent place to stay in the city before the two clubs had even reached an agreement over a fee.
“‘No, presidente [Josep Maria Bartomeu], there is no need for a hotel. I already have a house for him,” Suarez is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.
“He saw that a house next to his became available,” Coutinho told the Daily Mail. “He didn’t know I was coming for certain but he liked the idea.
“It’s a kind gesture. We’ve seen the pictures, the views look amazing. We are in touch all the time and I look forward to seeing the property with my family. I know Luis will help us to feel at home.”
LIVERPOOL FANS REACT TO THIS REVELATION ON TWITTER
While it was undoubtedly a kind gesture from Suarez, it’s hard to blame Liverpool fans for feeling angry with their former hero.
Check out the tweets…
As suspected Suarez not only assisted in unsettling Coutinho as well as tapping him up but also found him a house long before a deal was even done.
— Shamrock Red (@Shamrock_Gael) January 7, 2018
Suarez sorting a house for Coutinho long before he'd even signed and we'll have him back for a charity game at some stage. Cuckingham Palace.
— Taffin (@CalvLyfeson) January 7, 2018
So Suarez has had a house secured next door to his own for Coutinho for the past number of months…..player power 🙄
— De La Red (@delaredman) January 7, 2018
And Suarez already having Coutinho's house sorted way before any deal while some of you still act as if this guy who wanted to fuck us off for Arsenal is actually just on loan. smh
— Taintless Red (@TaintlessRed) January 7, 2018
For all the #LFC fans who idolise Luis Suarez, the fucking rat told Coutinho about a house to live in almost a month ago, he doesn’t give a single fuck about our club, fuck both of them.
— AJN. (@AndrewJNicholls) January 7, 2018
COUTINHO DELIGHTED AFTER SEALING BARCELONA MOVE
“I’m very happy, very happy,” Coutinho said, per the Mirror, following his move to Barcelona. “I have always said that it is a dream that I am living and I am very happy to be here.
“To be able to play, win titles, make the fans happy… always play with joy.
“It is incredible to know that I am going to live with idols, players with a lot of history.
“Footballers like Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, [Andres)] Iniesta, [Gerard] Pique, [Sergio] Busquets.
“I am very happy to be able to live together, to be able to learn from them and be able to win together.”