According to Sport, Arsenal are working on a deal to sign Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona.
The Brazilian has been out of form and out of favour at Barcelona for quite some time, but let’s not forget, this is a player who is incredibly talented.
There’s a reason that Barcelona paid £142m to sign him from Liverpool back in 2018. He’s a remarkable footballer, but you don’t just have to take our word for it.
Indeed, Coutinho is also highly-rated by his peers, including former Arsenal winger Willian.
What’s Willian said about Coutinho?
Willian was full of praise for Coutinho when speaking to Globo Esporte during his time with the Brazilian national team.
“Our relationship is very good, fantastic. Not just between me and Coutinho, but between all the players on the national team. For me, Coutinho is a great player, an ace, for what he’s been doing and now at the national team as well. I am very happy to see him playing so well. There is a fight for a calm, healthy position. When he wins, everyone wins, those in the bank too. I really hope he continues to be successful at the national team,” Willian said.
Could be rejuvenated
While Willian declined massively after joining Arsenal, we have to feel that a move to the Emirates could have the opposite effect on Coutinho.
Yes, he’s been poor for the past couple of years, but he’s only 29 years old, and he knows how to play in the Premier League.
He’d be incredibly well-suited to Arsenal’s current system, whether playing as a number 10 or an inverted winger off the left.
Willian called him a ‘great player’ for a reason, and you don’t just lose that talent overnight.
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