Why Coutinho won't make Manchester United move

Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho awkward celebration towards Barcelona fans

Philippe Coutinho is set to snub a move to Manchester United this summer out of respect to former club Liverpool .

The Brazil international is widely expected to leave Barcelona in the transfer window after a below-par season in Spain.

United were thought to be the frontrunners for the 27-year-old and were understood to be weighing up a move for the attacking midfielder.

However, Sky Sports News report that Coutinho is unwilling to consider a move to Old Trafford after his spell at Liverpool from 2013-2018

The Brazilian began his career by progressing through the ranks with Vasco da Gama in his native Brazil, before joining Inter Milan.

As part of the deal that took him to Italy in 2008, the now 27-year-old was loaned back to his former club owing to rules preventing foreign players from featuring in Italy until they turn 18.

On his return to the San Siro, Coutinho was handed his senior Inter debut in August 2010 by Rafa Benitez, coming on as a substitute in a defeat to Atletico Madrid.

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Another loan spell to Espanyol followed in 2012, before the Brazilian left Italy permanently in January 2013 to join Liverpool for £8.5m.

It was at Anfield where Coutinho’s career really began to take off, with the Brazil international quickly becoming a key figure for the Reds.

The 27-year-old was a key part of Liverpool’s midfield as they finished as runners-up behind Manchester City in the Premier League in the 2013-14 campaign.

Coutinho continued to impress for the Reds over the following seasons and that form eventually earned a move to Barcelona in January 2018 for a reported fee of £142m.

However, the attacking midfielder has struggled over the past 18 months in Spain and is set to leave this summer.

A return to the North West with United appeared to be on the cards, but Coutinho’s Liverpool links seem to have put paid to that move.

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