PHILIPPE COUTINHO cannot be blamed for wanting to leave Liverpool, according to Joey Barton.
Philippe Coutinho has been linked with a move to Barcelona in recent weeks and reportedly wants to leave Anfield for the Nou Camp.
Liverpool have been resisting Barca’s attempts to sign the Brazil international, rejecting three bids, with the latest worth £118million.
Coutinho is yet to feature for the Reds this season due to a back injury, leading to speculation he has gone on strike to force a move.
And Joey Barton thinks you cannot blame the 25-year-old for wanting to leave, claiming Liverpool no longer have the pulling power they once had.
“He wants out, and if you’re getting up to what are they now, almost £120m, it just looks like how much rather than if or when,” Barton told talkSPORT.
“He’s not a Scouser, he’s a Brazilian.
“He’s already living a fair distance away from home and he’s probably grown up wanting to play for Barcelona.
“No disrespect to Liverpool, but that’s the club Brazilian youngsters grow up wanting to play for nowadays.
“It’s not the Liverpool of the 80s, it’s Liverpool who haven’t won a title for over 20 years, so you can’t blame the boy.
“As I said, it’s just a case of how much and at what moment he goes.”
Express Sport understands Barca are preparing a fourth bid for Coutinho worth in the region of £130m.
The Brazil international is under contract until June 2022 having penned a new deal in January.
Source:www.express.co.uk