Neymar Sparks Rumors Again—Is Coutinho Right for Barca?
By Sean Whooley
Tactical Compatibility
He’s got the great feet, vision and eye for goal desired out of a Barcelona player, but would he even get in the team?
Neymar occupies the left-wing, which is where Coutinho operates for Liverpool. Many have likened him to Iniesta in the midfield. However the aforementioned issues in work rate and consistency make midfield a big adjustment for him. He’s dropped into a deeper role at Liverpool and shown great potential there. However, he clearly fancies an advanced role, whether as a No. 10 or out on the left. Iniesta’s box-to-box role would need some changing if Coutinho were to take it on.
If Barcelona prefer a true No. 10 instead of the more similar No. 8 to play just in front of Sergio Busquets, perhaps Coutinho is a good fit. But, there is a reason they have also been linked to Marco Verratti.