09 Jan 2018 10:00:04
There was an interesting piece in the Irish Times yesterday as to why Barcelona were so insistant on signing Couthino now rather than in the Summer even though he can't play in the CL and they are looking so strong in La Liga already.

The answer they said was basically (as always) follow the money and don't look further than who first leaked the transfer, Nike.

Nike have huge sponsorship deals with Barcelona and Brazil. Barcelona are huge in Brazil with a track record of having a Brazilian Star in their team. The 3rd best selling replica club shirt in Brazil is Barcelona's. Up until last Summer Neymars name was on most of these Jerseys. After he went Barcelona signed Paulhino to have a Brazilian in the side but as good a player as he is his name doesn't sell a lot of shirts. Couthino's name will sell merchandise for Nike. The world Cup is coming up this Summer and the Nike marketing machine in Brazil needs to get into gear now. Couthino in a Barcelona team will sell a lot more Barcelona Jerseys and also make him a bigger star in Brazil selling more Brazil Jersys with his name/ number.

Interesting read.

{Ed002's Note - The transfer was known about long before the error from Nike. And Barcelona did not buy Coutinho because of Nike.}

1.) 09 Jan 2018
09 Jan 2018 10:40:29
They were just talking about the urgency ed02. Not why, rather why now.

{Ed002's Note - Barcelona wanted to bring in someone in the summer and wanted Coutinho. They then pressed for a solution by November 30 or they were going to switch their thoughts to others. Coutinho disn't want to play for Liverpool and was the overwhelming focus of attention for the media - so the club needed to cut him lose - which is what they did.}

2.) 09 Jan 2018
09 Jan 2018 11:13:48
My guess for the urgency is Barcelona want to win this season's CL (as well as La Liga) . Coutinho arriving in January allows Iniesta to be rested for La Liga in order to concentrate on the CL that Coutinho can't play in.