Coutinho to Barcelona “Might Happen” Says Brazil Legend Rivaldo

For the past season or two, there has been something of an assumption that it’s only a matter of time before Philippe Coutinho ends up at Barcelona. If he does, it won’t be this month, but the draw the Catalan giants would have is impossible to ignore.

And to make sure everyone keeps thinking about it, Sky Sports asked former Brazil and Barcelona star Rivaldo about Coutinho’s future and whether he expects to see him at the Camp Nou. Though he has no special insight into the matter, like many, Rivaldo thinks it will happen.

"In my opinion, he's a great player and a player who knows Neymar well,” Rivaldo noted. “I think they are both friends—and players who stand out. I think that this transfer might happen because Barcelona is always going to attract the best, isn't it?

"He is one of the players who stands out and I believe that this transfer—if he goes to Barcelona—would be a good thing for Barcelona for sure. He is a player who would definitely help Barcelona. A player like him, it would definitely be a big help."

Barcelona will always have an outsized draw, particularly for South American stars, and if they do decide that Coutinho is the man to replace Andres Iniesta when the time comes then it will be difficult if not impossible for Liverpool to fend them off.

For now, though, that remains a subject for the future and Rivaldo’s talk—like so much of the Coutinho to Barcelona talk that has come before and will come again—is idle speculation and reveals nothing we all aren’t already well aware of.