Rio Ferdinand: Philippe Coutinho won’t improve Manchester United

Philippe Coutinho
Philippe Coutinho

Former Manchester United defender and club icon has suggested that the Red Devils should avoid signing Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona in the summer transfer window.

The Brazilian completed a switch to Barcelona in 2018 from Liverpool for a reported fee of £142m, but it’s been a nightmare experience for him. The 27-year-old has joined Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, but the German giants may not be too keen to sign him permanently.

Coutinho has been linked with a return to the Premier League, with Barcelona desperate to offload him in the summer. The Brazilian has been linked with a move to almost all major Premier League clubs at some point in recent months, with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur all being linked.

Ferdinand has hailed Coutinho as a ‘great player’, and a ‘huge talent’, but the former England defender feels that the Brazilian is not needed at clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, and Manchester City. Instead, he feels that Tottenham would be an ideal destination for Coutinho, while a move to Arsenal won’t be a bad option.

“I think he is a great player, a huge talent, I think he needs saving,” Ferdinand said during a Q&A on his official Instagram page.”

Coming into the Premier League to the right team would be a saviour for him – he needs that. I would have said Man United before Bruno Fernandes turned up, but not now.”

“Barely any team can afford him where he would fit in. He wouldn’t fit into City, Liverpool, not any teams like that. Would he be a good addition, yes? Not Man United though, and he played for Liverpool so it is a difficult one. The rivalry is mad.”

United do need to bolster their attacking department and have been linked with a move for Jadon Sancho. Coutinho won’t be a bad signing for the Red Devils given his experience and versatility, but there are better options elsewhere.

On top of that, a move to Manchester United will surely tarnish whatever positive image is left of Coutinho among the Liverpool fans forever.

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