02 December 2023 , 06:15
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Liverpool have done plenty of business with Spanish giants Barcelona in recent years.
Javier Mascherano quit Anfield in the summer of 2010 to join the Catalans after a successful spell as a Red. He was joined by Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez four years later as Barcelona concluded their long-standing interest with a £75m swoop.
Even during Jurgen Klopp's time as Liverpool boss, negotiations between the two sides have continued. The Reds cashed a £142m cheque for the signature of Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho, who made a dream move to the Camp Nou in January 2018.
Explaining why Liverpool had agreed to the switch, Klopp said: “It is with great reluctance that we – as a team and club – prepare to say farewell to a good friend, a wonderful person and a fantastic player in Philippe Coutinho. It is no secret that Philippe has wanted this move to happen since July when Barcelona first made their interest known.
“Philippe was insistent with me, the owners and even his teammates this was a move he was desperate to make happen.”
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The German then added: “I can tell the Liverpool supporters that we, as a club, have done everything within our means to convince Philippe that remaining part of LFC was as attractive as moving to Spain, but he is 100 per cent certain his future – and that of his family – belongs at Barcelona. It is his dream and I am now convinced there is nothing left at our disposal to change his mind.”
While there has no doubt been a draw for Liverpool players to move to Barcelona over the past two decades, the Reds have attempted to stem the tide. Following Coutinho’s move, they negotiated a clause that would see the Spanish side pay an £89million premium on top of any transfer fee for a Liverpool player until the summer of 2021.
Philippe Coutinho is presented by Barcelona (Getty Images)Would you prefer to play for Liverpool or Barcelona? Share your thoughts in the comments below
That has stopped any further moves between the two clubs but given the trajectories of both, the clause has proven irrelevant anyway. Since Coutinho’s exit, Liverpool have re-established themselves as one of the most successful clubs in English football.
Klopp led the club to their sixth Champions League title in 2019, while they have reached a further two finals. They have also managed to end their long wait for a Premier League title, while also winning the FA Cup, League Cup, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have endured a rollercoaster spell since Coutinho’s move. They have won just one league title in the last four years, while they have not won the Champions League since 2015.
That inconsistent form has seen four permanent managers be appointed by the club hierarchy. Away from their performances on the pitch, Barcelona have also endured plenty of upheaval off of it.
They are currently not playing at their famous Camp Nou home as it undergoes redevelopment, with the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium acting as their home ground. It would not be an outlandish suggestion to say that Liverpool are currently a more tempting proposition than Barcelona. So while the Catalan giants have done plenty of business with Liverpool in the past, that list appears unlikely to grow any time soon.