Coutinho's 'dream' Barca debut delayed by injury

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona's record signing Philippe Coutinho will not be able to make his debut for the club for about three weeks because of a thigh injury he sustained while at Liverpool.

Barcelona's Coutinho ruled out for three weeks

(Reuters)





The Brazilian playmaker passed a medical on Monday during which Barcelona doctors analysed the injury that kept him out of Liverpool's Premier League win over Burnley on Jan. 1.

"Coutinho has an injury in his right thigh. He will be out for 20 days," Barcelona said in a statement, meaning he is likely to make his debut in the Catalan derby against Espanyol on Feb. 4.

Barcelona agreed a 142 million-pound deal with Liverpool on Saturday to buy Coutinho, who became their record signing.

The Brazilian was presented to more than 7,000 fans at the Nou Camp and later told reporters that it was a dream for him to play for his new club.

"I am really happy, it's a dream and of course I am here thanks to many people," said Coutinho.

"Firstly God, my family, my parents, my partner, my daughter, they are with me through every moment. The effort of Barcelona, the president, the directors.

"I am also grateful to Liverpool for the five years I spent there. The directors understood it was my dream, they would have liked me to stay but it was my dream to come here and they understood.

"They were men of their word, and the (Liverpool) fans, we had good moments together. I am happy to arrive here at my new home."

Coutinho's debut will have to wait because of his injury, but the player is anxious to make an impact at his new home.

"Many, many times, I have dreamed of scoring my first goal, important goals," added Coutinho.

"I've dreamed of playing here many times. My job is to work hard to be available."





(Reporting by Rik Sharma, editing by Ed Osmond and John Stonestreet and Christian Radnedge)


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world