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Is this is the hint that Philippe Coutinho is staying at Barcelona?
PHILIPPE COUTINHO was expected to leave Barcelona this summer and the arrival of Antoine Griezmann appeared to hasten the club's need to sell.
Man United: Paul Pogba compared to Coutinho by Marcotti
Griezmann arrived at the Nou Camp last week after the Spanish giants triggered the £107million release clause in his Atletico Madrid contract.
He looked all set to take Coutinho’s No 7 shirt to edge the unsettled Brazilian closer to the exit door.
However, Barca today announced that Griezmann will take No 17 instead and it could hint that Coutinho has a future in Catalonia after all.
The news might come as a disappointment for fans of Liverpool and Manchester United as the pair have been heavily linked with a move for him.
However, their clubs may now need to turn their attentions elsewhere as Barca’s decision to keep him in the No 7 shirt appears to be a show of faith.
Coutinho's agent, Kia Joorabchian has also thrown cold water over a transfer even if his client has struggled to settle since signing for the club in a £142million deal last January.
“I was told they have no intention of selling him, that Barcelona have not spoken to anyone and that stories to the contrary are simply not true,” he said.
“I will not let people talk about Philippe and put him down because for one-and-a-half years we have said nothing.
“I won’t let them do that and all of us in Philippe’s camp will not let that happen because Barcelona have told us he is staying.”
Joorabchian did concede, however, that some people at Barcelona might be looking to for the club cash in on him.
Before signing Griezmann, they had already splashed out £60m on Frenkie de Jong.
They are also said to be keen to bring Neymar back from Paris Saint-Germain and he would command a fee even higher than right £200m they originally sold him for.
“Coutinho’s camp are not actively looking to move him but we believe people inside Barcelona may be acting without authority to try and sell the player,” Joorabchian added.
“Either Barcelona have to contain the people within their organisation who are giving out information to the contrary.
“Or they have to tell us the truth if they have changed their minds.”