Barcelona stars Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic are unhappy at Barcelona’s pursuit of Philippe Coutinho, according to reports in Spain.
The transfer saga which gripped supporters through the summer shows no signs of concluding anytime soon as more and more stories about a potential departure come out.
The Brazilian was keen to join Barcelona in the summer Liverpool rejected several advances and bids from the Catalan giants. This appears to have not deterred Barcelona in their efforts to sign Coutinho and they are expected to return in January with another offer.
According to Spanish publication Diario Gol, Iniesta and Rakiticare upset by these plans as they believe it will decrease their playing time. Both players feel their starting places are already under pressure with the likes of Paulinho, Sergi Roberto, Denis Suarez and Andre Gomes all competing for starting spots.
Barca suffered the loss of Neymar, as he departed for the French capital with a move to PSG. This saw the arrival of Ousmane Dembele but the Frenchman suffered a ruptured tendon in his thigh. He is due back in January, the next time the transfer window is open, and as such, the Barca players see a move for Coutinho as unnecessary.
Iniesta is leading the rebellion against Barca’s intentions to sign Coutinho, claim Diario Gol, as the Spaniard delivers his own, and his team-mates’ apprehensions, if they go ahead with plans to bring in the 25-year-old.
Barca will now have to weigh up their options as they look to spearhead successful campaigns in regaining the La Liga and Champions League titles from Real Madrid. Coutinho’s desire to move to the Nou Camp looks to be showing no signs of slowing down, time will tell if Liverpool stick to their guns.
