PSG reaction to Barcelona's Coutinho deal with Bayern Munich explained amid Neymar battle
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN are reportedly surprised by Barcelona’s decision to loan Philippe Coutinho to Bayern Munich amid the Catalan giants’ desire to sign Neymar.
PSG were hoping to sign Coutinho as part of a transfer deal that would see Neymar make a stunning return to Barcelona.
The Brazil international is eager to return to the Nou Camp, two years after he quit the club in a £200million deal.
But Barcelona have left PSG reeling, with Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo saying the Ligue 1 giants are surprised at the club’s decision to loan Coutinho to Bayern.
All summer long, talk has been rife that the Samba star would move to PSG.
However, before their 1-0 La Liga defeat to Athletic Bilbao on Friday, Barcelona announced Coutinho would be moving to the Bundesliga instead.
PSG now supposedly feel Barcelona might be bluffing on Neymar.
But that isn’t the case. They do want the 27-year-old to be wearing red and blue again next season - but couldn’t let the opportunity to offload Coutinho pass.
Bayern will pay €20m for the one-year loan (£18m) and will hand the Brazilian a salary of €12m-per-annum (£9m).
And with Barcelona needing to generate money to use on Neymar, they agreed to accept the deal.
PSG are baffled at Barcelona sending Philippe Coutinho to Bayern Munich (Image: GETTY)
PSG had been hoping to sign Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona (Image: GETTY)
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