Los Angeles Galaxy face the challenge of bouncing back from a poor 2025 season and seriously competing for the Major League Soccer title this year. In that context, there has been speculation about the possible arrival of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/philippe-coutinho/">Philippe Coutinho</a>, something the club’s General Manager recently addressed.



During an interview on Cobi Club with former USMNT player Cobi Jones, Will Kuntz was asked about the rumors regarding negotiations with Coutinho. “I can say that where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” the GM said, hinting that there was some truth to those reports.



“We analyzed many players during this offseason. There were several very interesting and high-level profiles,” Kuntz later added. “But the reality is that we wanted to prioritize bringing the group together as soon as possible and having the full squad as soon as possible. That’s why we couldn’t wait for players who weren’t aligned with that objective.”



<h2>LA Galaxy’s roster moves this year</h2>



While the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mls/">MLS</a> transfer window still has several weeks remaining — it does not close until March 26 — clubs have already been competing in the league for weeks. For that reason, most teams have opted to finalize their squads early rather than lose valuable time during the season.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/01/05003709/riqui-puig-la-galaxy-1920x1080.webp" alt="Riqui Puig #10 of LA Galaxy." class="wp-image-613962"><figcaption>Riqui Puig is one of LA Galaxy’s biggest stars.</figcaption></figure>



That has been <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/la-galaxy/">LA Galaxy</a>’s approach, as they made several changes to their roster compared to last season’s disappointing campaign. One of the club’s most significant additions this year was forward Joao Klauss, who arrived from St. Louis. He was joined by three other players who were already in MLS: Jakob Glesnes, Justin Haak, and Erik Thommy. Among the departures, the most notable include Jonathan Perez to Nashville SC, John McCarthy to New York Red Bulls, and Matheus Nascimento to Botafogo.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/news/marco-reus-makes-decision-on-his-future-with-la-galaxy-beyond-2026-mls-season/"></div>


While none of the players who joined LA Galaxy this year have the quality and experience of Philippe Coutinho, they all arrived early in the offseason and allowed head coach Greg Vanney to shape the squad with enough time to compete in MLS and the Concacaf Champions Cup.



<h2>What will happen with Coutinho?</h2>



For weeks, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/la-galaxy-or-retirement-brazil-star-coutinho-reportedly-weighing-career-end-amid-mls-rumors/">Coutinho’s future appeared to be down to two possible paths: LA Galaxy or retirement</a>. The player’s own comments during his farewell to Vasco da Gama — in which he referenced prioritizing his mental health — seemed to increase the chances of that being the final outcome of his career.



However, with the possibility of joining Galaxy now off the table, reports have pointed to other opportunities for a potential return to Europe. According to Sports Illustrated, cited by Fichajes, three La Liga clubs have shown interest in the Brazilian midfielder: Elche, Girona, and Rayo Vallecano.



Coutinho has played in Spain before, with Espanyol and Barcelona. Those experiences came at very different moments in his career: with Espanyol he spent only a few months during the 2011–12 season on loan from Inter Milan, while he joined Barcelona as a global superstar in 2018 after shining at Liverpool. Considering that his last spell in La Liga did not leave the best impression, the Brazilian playmaker may be motivated by the opportunity to get another chance there.

Coutinho’s potential LA Galaxy move falls through as MLS club GM admits: ‘We couldn’t wait’

Coutinho’s potential LA Galaxy move falls through as MLS club GM admits: ‘We couldn’t wait’ - World Soccer Talk

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Few cases in recent years compare to that of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/philippe-coutinho/">Philippe Coutinho</a>. The Brazilian midfielder was a superstar at Liverpool when Barcelona paid a massive fee to sign him in 2018. From that point on, however, things gradually went downhill, to the extent that he lost his place with the Brazil national team. In that context, Major League Soccer has emerged as a possible destination amid rumors linking him to LA Galaxy.



In recent days, details surfaced about the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/riqui-puigs-replacement-at-la-galaxy-could-be-former-brazil-and-barcelona-star-amid-mental-health-struggles/">MLS team’s reported interest in signing Coutinho, whom they view as a potential replacement for Riqui Puig</a>. With the Spanish midfielder ruled out for the entire 2026 season after undergoing a second knee operation related to his 2024 injury, Philippe could represent a valuable addition.



However, there is another option under consideration. “The midfielder’s future prospects are either to go to an <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mls/">MLS</a> team in the United States, or even announce his retirement,” ESPN recently reported.



At just 33 years old, the end of Coutinho’s career might seem surprising, but his recent decisions and comments offer insight into his current mindset. “The truth is that I’m very mentally exhausted. I’ve always been very reserved, so saying this here isn’t easy, but I need to be honest,” the midfielder wrote on social media earlier this year after deciding to leave Vasco da Gama.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/22165606/Philippe-Coutinho-1200x675-1200x675.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-586142" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"><figcaption>Philippe Coutinho playing for Barcelona.</figcaption></figure>



“With a heavy heart, I understand that now is the time to take a step back and end this cycle at Vasco,” he added in the same post. “My relationship with Vasco is one of love. And it will continue to be forever.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/news/la-galaxy-vs-nycfc-live-updates-minute-by-minute-coverage-of-the-2026-mls-season/"></div>


<h2>Coutinho has another offer, though less appealing</h2>



Coutinho’s sudden departure from Vasco da Gama drew interest from several clubs intrigued by the talent of the 33-year-old. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/la-galaxy/">LA Galaxy</a> appear to be an attractive option as they look to rebound from a disappointing 2025 MLS season, but there are other alternatives.



“Coutinho has received an inquiry from Russian club CSKA Moscow,” ESPN reported. However, the chances of that move materializing appear slim. “A source close to the player, however, told ESPN Brasil they would be surprised if Coutinho accepted an offer from Russian football,” the report added.


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<h2>The decline of Coutinho’s career</h2>



The nearly $180 million Barcelona paid Liverpool for Coutinho in 2018 now feels like a distant memory. Over the years, the midfielder’s performances steadily declined, and his career has been marked by frequent club changes.



In 2019, Coutinho was loaned to Bayern Munich before returning to Barcelona a year later. Aston Villa became his next destination, where he spent just over a year and a half with limited success. He then moved to Al Duhail in Qatar before completing a long-anticipated return to Vasco da Gama in 2024.



Despite the excitement surrounding that move, things did not go as planned. In January of this year, the midfielder negotiated an early termination of his contract to become a free agent and determine the next step in his professional career.

LA Galaxy or retirement? Brazil star Coutinho reportedly weighing career end amid MLS rumors

LA Galaxy or retirement? Brazil star Coutinho reportedly weighing career end amid MLS rumors - World Soccer Talk

The 2026 Major League Soccer season is about to begin, but some clubs are still searching for players to finalize their rosters. That is the case for Los Angeles Galaxy, who will be without <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/riqui-puig/">Riqui Puig</a> this year due to a serious injury. In his place, they could add a midfielder who previously played for Barcelona and the Brazil national team.



According to Diario AS, Philippe Coutinho is being considered as a potential signing for this season by LA Galaxy after his recent departure from Vasco da Gama. “The 33-year-old midfielder reached an agreement with the Brazilian club and is now a free agent, sparking interest from several teams, including Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy,” the report states.



“LA Galaxy have not yet submitted a formal offer, but sources say the club is interested and a move could be discussed soon,” AS adds. In that sense, the California club has considerable time to advance negotiations, given that the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mls/">MLS</a> transfer window does not close until March 26.



However, to complete Coutinho’s signing, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/la-galaxy/">LA Galaxy</a> will first need to address an important issue: they must free up or acquire an international player slot in order to register the Brazilian star. The cost to purchase an additional slot is reportedly around $500,000.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/22165606/Philippe-Coutinho-1200x675-1200x675.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-586142" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"><figcaption>Philippe Coutinho playing for Barcelona.</figcaption></figure>



Additionally, even if the deal goes through, Philippe Coutinho would not be eligible as a Designated Player. LA Galaxy’s three DP slots are already filled by Joao Klauss, Gabriel Pec, and Joseph Paintsil. Riqui Puig was removed from that list since he will not be ready to return to the field this season, still recovering from a second knee surgery after an ACL injury suffered in late 2024.


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<h2>Coutinho could be a top-level addition in MLS</h2>



Philippe Coutinho has extensive experience at the elite level of soccer and could be an interesting addition to MLS. He shined for years at Liverpool until Barcelona paid more than $150 million for him in 2018, one of the most expensive transfers in soccer history. At the time, he was also a key player for the Brazil national team, appearing in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and three Copa America tournaments.



However, Coutinho’s star status gradually diminished over the years. He arrived in Spain tasked with replacing Neymar, who had moved to Paris Saint-Germain, but he never met expectations and spent the following years at various clubs—Bayern Munich, Aston Villa, and Al Duhail in Qatar—without ever fully settling in.



<h2>Coutinho’s current struggles</h2>



After moving between leagues around the world for years, Coutinho returned home in 2024 and joined Vasco da Gama, where he registered 80 appearances and 17 goals until early this year. However, last week the midfielder left the Brazilian club as a free agent.



He explained that the decision was due to the distress caused by criticism from Vasco da Gama fans, who were dissatisfied with his performance. “Being judged by countless people for something that is not part of my character is extremely difficult. I would never disrespect the fans, my teammates, or Vasco. I have never done that anywhere I’ve been,” he wrote on social media.



Finally, Coutinho clarified his main concern at the moment: “I felt and realized that my cycle at the club had ended, and I returned home to prioritize my mental health. That hurts a lot. The truth is, I am very mentally exhausted.”

Riqui Puig’s replacement at LA Galaxy could be former Brazil and Barcelona star amid mental health struggles

Riqui Puig’s replacement at LA Galaxy could be former Brazil and Barcelona star amid mental health struggles - World Soccer Talk

The end of Philippe Coutinho’s tenure at Aston Villa seems imminent. Thus, he may make a triumphant return to Vasco da Gama, the club he played for as a youngster. Villa have a contract with the Brazilian playmaker until 2026.



However, he is allegedly trying to get out of it early since he isn’t in manager Unai Emery’s long-term plans. The Spaniard has guided the Villa Park outfit to a first-ever <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">Champions League</a> berth with an unprecedented fourth-place finish in the Premier League.



He has made several changes to his team to improve it while still adhering to the Profit and Sustainability regulations. Thus, players with high salary demands, like Coutinho, may have to leave as a result of this fiscal restraint.



<h2>Where next for Coutinho?</h2>



Coutinho has seen a series of ups and downs throughout his career. He joined Inter from Brazil in 2008 but really came into his own at Liverpool. At Anfield, he was hailed as a Premier League genius.



His lavish transfer to Barcelona in 2018 fell flat, therefore four years later, he returned to England with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/aston-villa-tv-schedule/">Aston Villa</a>. Coutinho had a bright start, but his form declined. As a result, he was no longer in Emery’s plans by the beginning of 2023.



Villa will now get the 31-year-old back after spending the season on loan to Qatari club Al Duhail because they didn’t want to renew his contract. Thus, a summer departure is inevitable given the lack of opportunities at Villa.



Negotiations with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/supporter-groups-rebel-against-multi-club-ownership/">Vasco da Gama</a> are moving along swimmingly; the Brazilian club is optimistic about re-signing Coutinho, according to <a href="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1794526811667546201" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fabrizio Romano</a>. Coutinho played his first professional season with the Rio de Janeiro side, so a return there would be like going home.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="442" height="483" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/16041700/image-45-442x483.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-509191" sizes="(max-width: 442px) 100vw, 442px"></figure></div><figcaption>Coutinho is unlikely to be an Aston Villa player for much longer</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Villa planning squad overhaul</h2>



Going back to Brazil may be the spark his career needs after a few rough seasons in Europe. In this possible move, both parties stand to gain. Coutinho gets a chance to reclaim his form in a familiar setting, while Villa gets to lower their salary cost.



Emery’s decision to cut ways with the veteran is in line with their long-term goals of stabilizing their finances and enhancing their roster. Coutinho will have a tough time finding a spot on the squad with players like Morgan Rogers, Emi Buendia, Jacob Ramsey, and Leon Bailey.



At the same time, the Englishmen will be able to bolster their roster in preparation for the Champions League campaign thanks to the funds from his departure.



The player is coordinating with all parties to cut relations with Villa, as he may leave the club in the first half of June, according to Brazilian reports. Supposedly, he is unable to go quickly to Vasco since he has not yet arranged the conditions of his departure.



After touching down in Brazil this weekend, Coutinho seemed to confirm his departure by speaking to waiting local journalists. <a href="https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-transfers-phillippe-coutinho-29238282" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">He allegedly said</a>, “Everyone already knows” what the summer has in store for him.



Photo credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto

Coutinho’s Villa exit looms as heartwarming move advances

Philippe Coutinho's time at Aston Villa appears to be nearing its end, with a potential return to his boyhood club on the horizon.

Coutinho’s Villa exit looms as heartwarming move advances - World Soccer Talk

<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2021/08/barcelona-billion-debt-1200x675.webp" alt="Barcelona&apos;s $1.5 billion debt" width="1200" height="675" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-342422" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div>
Lionel Messi’s move to Paris Saint Germain rocked the sports world. A sad, but necessary, move to try to reduce Barcelona’s dire situation of being $1.5 billion debt. Paris came to a standstill to welcome the Argentine. FC Barcelona did not have the winger as a first-team player for the first time in 16 years. LaLiga without the two biggest stars in the game.
Messi’s departure comes unexpectedly for seemingly everyone, including Barcelona management and the player himself. Lionel Messi returned to the club after his first major international success (winning the 2021 Copa América) ready to play. So ready to play that his pay would be slashed in half to free up finances for the club.
Yes, Messi would still make an estimated $85 million per year. If anything, it showed he was willing to work with the club to help them.
Newly elected Barcelona President Joan Laporta came in with two goals. The first one, to look good for fans, was to re-sign Messi. The Argentine’s contract expired at the end of the previous season, leaving him as a free agent. The second, more important goal, was to right Barcelona’s financial crisis.
FC Barcelona, among the biggest clubs in the world, sat billions of euros in debt. Despite a combined social media following of <a href="https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/news/2174175/barca-surpasses-400-million-followers-on-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400-million users</a> and the <a href="https://football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/mr/mr44/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">third-highest average attendance</a> in European soccer, the club was in economic ruin.
To estimate, most bookies say the club sat at $1.5 billion in the hole. As recently as August 16, the debt climbed to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/08/16/laporta-says-barcelona-finances-dramatic-but-future-bright/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$1.58 billion</a>, according to Laporta. Barcelona’s well-documented issues dominate headlines right now. Perhaps audiences enjoy watching the old guard fall. Or, on the flip side, fans enjoy seeing their comeback both on and off the field.
Regardless, these issues must be explained before they can be tackled and understood.
<h3>Barcelona’s $1.5 billion debt in three pieces</h3>
<h5>1. Dodgy Transfers</h5>
On face value, transfers are an easy way to spend or earn money, depending on value.
In Barcelona’s case, it’s an understatement to say they took risks in the transfer market when trying to acquire players. Some of this can be chalked up to simple bad luck with injuries. Ousmane Dembele came over from Borussia Dortmund for a base fee of 105 million euros. Add-ons and other fees brought that transfer up to <a href="https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2021/02/12/6026bc3d268e3ecf6a8b45da.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">125 million euros</a>. Dembele’s constant injury dilemmas and lack of success on the field illustrate the obvious failures in the transfer.
Similarly, Barcelona acquired Philippe Coutinho for a club-record fee of 160 million euros. Injuries did not help the Brazilian, who could not keep up form on the field. Often, Barcelona fans at Camp Nou would jeer the midfielder during games.
The same story exists for players like Samuel Umtiti, Andre Gomes and even Antoine Griezmann. Albeit, Griezmann’s performances are fine, they just do not warrant the 120 million euro transfer fee he required.
The only saving grace for Barcelona in terms of transfers is that they sold Neymar for a world-record fee of 222 million euros. Despite the influx of cash from the Parisians, debt persisted and worsened.
At the beginning of 2021, Barcelona’s transfer debt to other clubs sat at roughly <a href="https://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news-barcelona-reveal-how-much-they-owe-other-clubs-in-transfer-fees-20210125" target="_blank" rel="noopener">205 million euros</a>.
<h5>2. COVID-19 and other ventures</h5>
FC Barcelona, like millions of employees and companies around the world, suffered massive losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In their end-of-year financial analysis, the club reported a <a href="https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/news/1856468/the-201920-economic-year-ends-with-losses-of-97-million-euros-caused-by-the-effects-of-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">net loss of 97 million euros</a> in the 2019-20 season. The club attributes much of that to the loss of a true matchday experience. The club pulled in revenues of 162 million euros from stadium and other venue operation. This is 24 percent less than their revenues from the season prior. Additionally, 249 million euros of revenue came from broadcasting rights for Barcelona games via LaLiga, Copa del Rey or the Champions League. This resembles a 35 million euro decrease from 2018/19.
Despite total revenues reaching 855 million euros, the club budgeted 1.047 billion euros in revenue. The club came up 18 percent short in their revenues.
To boot, FC Barcelona continued their investment in upgrades to their stadium, Camp Nou. The Espai Barca project, which is a plan to modernize the grounds and the stadium at Camp Nou, costs roughly <a href="https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/news/1856346/fc-barcelona-gets-a-unique-financing-model-for-espai-barca-based-on-incremental-revenue-generated-by-the-camp-nou-over-25-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener">50 million euros each year</a>, for the next 25 years.
While a welcome change, Espai Barca represents yet another cost that may be avoidable. Regardless, the 25- to 30-year deal with Goldman Sachs yields 50 million in expenses each year.
<div id="attachment_342371" style="width: 1290px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-342371" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-342371 size-full" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2021/08/Camp-Nou-1280x720.webp" alt="" width="1280" height="720" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px"></figure></div>The famous Camp Nou sat empty for over an entire season, with costly renovations on the horizon.</div>
<h5></h5>
<h5>3. Wages</h5>
The main eye-opener in Barcelona’s $1.5 billion debt is player wages. Headlines regarding Pique, Messi and other long-standing players mention the lofty wages that must be dealt with.
Before his contract ended, Messi’s contract brought him over 500 million euros over a four-year span. Gerard Pique needed to take a 50 percent salary cut just to allow Barcelona’s new signings to play.
The salary issue reached roughly <a href="https://salarysport.com/football/la-liga/barcelona/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">280 million euros per year</a>. This was obviously unsustainable, and it brought tough decisions to the forefront of the club to offset Barcelona’s $1.5 billion debt.
<h3>Steps towards recovery</h3>
<h5>Tough goodbyes</h5>
Lionel Messi&nbsp;is, not was, an icon of the club. He wanted to stay and sign a new four-year deal at the club, taking a massive slash to his wages. He took on the saying&nbsp;mes que un club, as you would expect the captain to do. However, Messi’s contract and the associated plans presented by Laporta were not allowed under LaLiga attempts to tighten financial regulations.
With the need to shed 200 million euros to meet LaLiga’s salary cap, not even Messi’s 50 percent cut fit the designated amount. Pique’s contract was relatively small enough to squeeze into the salary cap.
For those wondering why Messi could not take more money off his contract, Barcelona thought of that as well. To avoid fraud, one’s contract can be no smaller than 50 percent of the previous contract. This means that even with the maximum cut, Messi’s contract was too large.
Here is where Joan Laporta blames the previous administration. Barcelona’s previous board, led by Josep Maria Bartomeu, signed players to such large contracts. Contracts so inflated that the debt kept piling up.
<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/07/17/espn-faq-for-la-liga-everything-you-need-to-know/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE:</a>&nbsp;ESPN+ FAQ for La Liga: Everything you need to know
Griezmann, Coutinho and Miralem Pjanic, all signings by the previous board, occupied the second-, third- and fourth-<a href="https://salarysport.com/football/la-liga/barcelona/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highest salaries in 2020/21</a>. One thing these players have in common is that they underperform based on their wages, significantly. No other team wants to buy these players in a transfer to help Barcelona knowing the on-field product will not deliver. In the end, these players sit, unused, raking in lump sums of money.
Francisco Trincão and Junior Firpo highlight those who departed in the summer of 2021 to shed some of the salary for the upcoming season.
<h5>Return to Development at La Masia</h5>
The previous administration took over in 2014. The squad headlined by Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Sergio Busquets and other La Masia products won three UEFA Champions League titles in six years. This core added a fourth in 2015. However, the direction of the club quickly changed.
The performances on the field lost the&nbsp;tiki-taka flair established by Pep Guardiola. Instead of growing talents from their academy, many players simply arrived via transfers.
We can see, now, how that turned out for the club. No more Champions League triumphs, a handful of domestic success, but nothing to match the standard of FC Barcelona.
To fix Barcelona’s $1.5 billion debt, the plan has to revert to using La Masia to create home-grown talents. Riqui Puig, Ilaix Moriba, Oscar Mingueza and other young players demonstrate the facility still has potential.
During his campaign for presidency, Laporta argued that the club must prioritize La Masia over outside transfers. This will be hard for many Barcelona fans used to domestic and intercontinental success, but this process will take time. However, the results, as seen in the ten-year stretch from 2006-2015, do not lie.
<div id="attachment_342368" style="width: 1110px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-342368" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-342368 size-full" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2021/08/Pep-Resize-1100x683.webp" alt="" width="1100" height="683" sizes="(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px"></figure></div>FC Barcelona players lift former manager Pep Guardiola.</div>
<h5></h5>
<h5>Rebuild the culture</h5>
Lionel Messi is one of the last players to hold what made the Barcelona teams of years prior so special. He played with a certain style on the pitch. Also, he did not speak negatively about the club until the summer of 2020 during his quarrel with Bartomeu.
With Messi gone, it is hard to envision the trademark tiki-taka style at Camp Nou. With Laporta emphasizing the importance of La Masia, that style can return to its roots.
A younger revolution at the club means the chance to create something special. The results can be seen. Pedri, although he was purchased from Las Palmas, resembles what Iniesta and Xavi brought to the club. It is a challenging comparison to make, but Ansu Fati is on par with some of Messi’s early records. These players, along with the aforementioned La Masia graduates, can build the core of a team to legitimately compete in a few years.
What is even more exciting for Barcelona and its fans, is the fact that these players have the charisma and style that graced previous generations of Barcelona players. Perhaps Barcelona can rise again?
<div style="font-size: 10px;color: #cccccc;overflow: hidden;font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/worldsoccertalk" title="World Soccer Talk Podcast" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc;text-decoration: none" rel="noopener">World Soccer Talk Podcast</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/worldsoccertalk/can-espn-grow-laliga-in-the-united-states" title="Can ESPN grow LaLiga in the United States?" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc;text-decoration: none" rel="noopener">Can ESPN grow LaLiga in the United States?</a></div>

The downfall of Barcelona: How debt and transfers cost Messi

FC Barcelona's $1.5 billion debt seems like an impossible number to reach. However, what seems even more insurmountable is trying to overcome it.

The downfall of Barcelona: How debt and transfers cost Messi - World Soccer Talk

<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-85743" title="sturridge-suarez" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2013/10/sturridge-suarez-620x300.webp" alt="" width="620" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px"></figure></div>
“Long is the way, and hard, that out of hell leads up to light.” – John Milton, Paradise Lost
Don’t go jumping to any conclusions. Liverpool Football Club still has work to do. However, the light is becoming clearer and stronger for the faithful supporters of the Anfield club.
It has been ages since Liverpool FC were under the leadership of chairman David Moores. Prior to Moores’ tenure, Liverpool was the most successful club in the history of English football. They had won the Football League First Division eighteen times, the FA Cup four times and the European Cup four times. They were the shining example of English football across Europe.
Since then, Manchester United have surpassed Liverpool’s domestic cup haul by winning 20 top flight titles while also becoming the global symbol of English football.
Over the past 22 years, Liverpool has failed to win the league and has won the FA Cup three times and the EFA Champions League trophy once. Liverpool has won a host of other competitions. But the dominance they once had over English and European football has been non-existent recently.
The club’s fall from grace started under the leadership of Graeme Souness. In April 1991, Moores appointed Souness who took over a Liverpool side that sat top of the First Division and hadn’t finished outside the top two places in ten seasons. But in his first full season in charge the following year Liverpool finished 6th – the club’s lowest finish in 28 years.
The downfall increased in severity after Moores sold the club to American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks in 2007. Moores later admitted that he “hugely regretted” selling the club to the Americans, but the damage had already been done. The new owners saddled the club with huge debts that were incurred during its purchase.
Liverpool needed to increase the capacity of Anfield to compete with other top clubs, but weren’t able to make the necessary changes due to the club’s poor finances. The new owners proclaimed that a new stadium was their priority and that work would begin immediately. However the pair failed to secure funding and plans for a new home ground. The plans for the ground at Stanley Park were shelved.
Despite the financial concerns, Liverpool were able to capture their fifth Champions League title in 2005 when they battled from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Italian giant, AC Milan. They made another Champions League final appearance in 2007 and finished second in the Premier League to Manchester United in 2009. But in 2010, the club lost in the group stages of the Champions League and hasn’t made a return to the competition.
In the new Premier League environment of billionaire owners, huge modernized stadiums, and global marketing, Liverpool had fallen far behind clubs such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal. The club just couldn’t compete for the top players in the world and had to sell their marquee stars. Xavi Alonso was sold to Real Madrid in 2009 for £30m ($48m). Javier Mascherano went to Barcelona in 2010 for £17.3m ($27.7m). And Fernando Torres was sold to rival Chelsea for £50m ($80m) in 2011.
The sale of Torres allowed Liverpool to bring in two players: Andy Carroll from Newcastle United for £35m ($56.1m) and Luis Suárez from AFC Ajax for £23m ($36.9m). Although Suárez has turned into Liverpool’s star player next to veteran Steven Gerrard, Carroll never quite panned out and was sent to West Ham United in 2012.
During the 2009-10 season, Liverpool fell completely out of the “Top Four” and has since to return. Years of financial strain, average managers, bad signings, and commercial ineptitude have combined to hold Liverpool back.
In October 2010, Liverpool was sold to John W. Henry and the Fenway Sports Group (formerly New England Sports Ventures). The club’s fortunes were not immediately solved by the new ownership. But since the start of the 2012-13 season, Liverpool has shown signs of a club moving out of the dark.
Mr. Henry and the Fenway Sports Group&nbsp;are moving forward with the planned renovation of Anfield. The project is expected to cost the club £154m ($244.5m).
Although the club is still in debt, its commercial revenues have been increasing and the Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has continued to strengthen Liverpool’s already global brand. Managing Director, Ian Ayre recently stated: “And as we approach things like Financial Fair Play and that type of environment, we will be in a very strong position.” He went on to say, “What we have to do is match our football performance with our business performance. Everybody throughout the club is working towards that; creating the right sustainable business performance to feed the football business and then the football business can deliver on its side.”
The football side is now in good hands under the leadership of Brendan Rodgers. Despite finishing in seventh place in 2012-13, Rodgers was able to bring stability and direction to the club. Rodger’s footballing philosophy is consistent with Spain and Barcelona; it is one that hails possession of the ball above all other aspects of the game.
Liverpool suffered some growing pains early in Rodgers’ tenure. Goals were conceded because of defenders ill-advised passes in their own half. But over the course of Rodgers’ first season, the players began to look more comfortable. And as of today, it seems that Liverpool has been able to combine the fluid and silky style of passing football that Rodgers desires with a steely determination to defend when needed. Liverpool have expanded their style to show (early in the season) that they can absorb opponents’ pressure and then hit them on the counter-attack.
Due to the club’s tentative financial state, they have had to invest wisely during the transfer windows.&nbsp;Liverpool have not only done that, they have signed some of the brighter&nbsp;young talent in the league.
The&nbsp;biggest turning point for the club has been the addition of five young players: forwards Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge, attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and defender Mamadou Sakho.
The partnership of Suárez and Sturridge has the potential to be one of the best in the Premier League. Last season, all the talk was of the Rooney/Van Perise pairing at Manchester United. But with United currently stumbling and Liverpool holding a higher position in the league table, “SAS” (Suarez and Sturridge) has taken top billing.
Regarding SAS, Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler commented earlier this week: “There has been a trend to play one up front with a man floating in behind but that can make things difficult for the man at the head of the team. He will often find himself with two men, possibly even three, keeping him under wraps.”
“Once you have two strikers working in tandem, though, the dynamics completely change and doubts begin to creep into defenders’ minds.”
“That’s when a partnership really works. When it is two against two, the odds are in favor of the strikers, especially if they are top players like Liverpool’s pairing.”
Luis Suárez (regardless what most football fans outside of Liverpool think) is one of the best players in the world. He plays with boundless energy, constantly runs at opposing defenders, shares the ball and literally fights to win every possession. If anyone has any questions about his effort, they need look no further than his opening goal against Crystal Palace this weekend. Suárez has tallied 54 goals and 16 assists during all competitions since his arrival in 2011.
In January 2013, Liverpool added Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea Football Club. The goal scoring forward had previously proven himself as a Premier League threat during his loan spell at Bolton Wanderers. Although he continued to have a hard time finding steady first-team matches with his parent club, Chelsea. Sturridge was eventually sold to Liverpool.
While he struggled to find his way during his half season with the club, he showed signs of being the perfect complement to Suárez. Towards the end of 2013 (with Suárez suspended), Sturridge was able to assert himself as a scoring option for the club. More recently, Sturridge’s decision making – when to pass and when to shoot – has vastly improved.
Although he recently suffered an injury blow, Philippe Coutinho’s arrival at Anfield has been an instant success. Coutinho scored a goal in his full debut against Swansea City. He is a prototypical Brazilian number 10, playing with an attacking flair, vision, and an eye for goal. He was quickly able to unlock opposing defenses and provide fantastic build up to Liverpool’s attack.
Coutinho should return from injury to the Liverpool lineup shortly after the international break.
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was bought from Sunderland during the summer of 2013. Mignolet was widely sought after by top Premier League clubs. His efforts literally prevented Sunderland from relegation in 2012-13. Mignolet is the starting goalkeeper for the Belgian national team which is currently ranked sixth in the FIFA World Rankings.
Liverpool’s latest signing was 6’2 defender Mamadou Sakho from French champions Paris Saint-Germain. Sakho is a physically imposing centre back with fantastic anticipation. The French international and boyhood PSG fan, Sakho came through the ranks at PSG and has hinted at a future return to the club. But since his arrival in the northwest of England, he has pledged his loyalty to Liverpool and promised to help return them to their glory days.
A return to European competition is in sight for the club. With both Manchester clubs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, and even Swansea City competing in Europe, Liverpool have time to focus on the Premier League table. While the other top clubs are seeing their squads physically wear down due to an overwhelming amount of games, Liverpool’s squad should be prepared and fresh.
Liverpool are currently on top of the Premier League after seven matches (prior to the West Bromwich-Arsenal match). Big games are soon to follow and the club will need to prove themselves against the league’s most recent threats. But Liverpool’s climb from darkness is nearly complete. For the club’s supporters, it can’t come soon enough.

We Are Witnessing the Final Stages of Liverpool’s Revival

We Are Witnessing the Final Stages of Liverpool’s Revival - World Soccer Talk

While <a href="http://www.serieatalk.com/ghost-of-jose-mourinho-haunts-milan/3268">AC Milan and Roma were both humiliated</a> in their Champions League matches yesterday, Inter Milan put on a good show for any people who watched the European champions. Both sides were equal on points at the top of the group, but with Inter’s win, the nerazzurri go top of Group A. Twente and Werder Bremen played out a 1-1 draw at Twente, leaving them both tied with two points at the bottom, Tottenham in second with four points, and Inter Milan first with seven points.
Rafael Benitez decided to start with the same team which defeated Cagliari this past weekend, this is mainly due to injuries spread around the starting 11. So Eto’o playing as a lone forward with the trio of Coutinho, Sneijder, and Biabiany supporting him. And then Stankovic and Zanetti in front of the defence comprised of Maicon, Samuel, Lucio, and Chivu. Tottenham also played with a weakened side, the English side was missing their key player Rafael Van der Vaart who was sent off last game against Werder Bremen.
The match began with instant action, while some might’ve expected a dull game from Inter, they went out to win from the first minute. It took them just two minutes to find the back of Tottenham’s net, a great move on the left wing which released Zanetti in the box to side foot past Gomes. So right away Inter find themselves leading at the San Siro, with captain fantastic the scorer.
About ten minutes later Inter were given a penalty when Gomes slashed through Biabiany at the top of the penalty box, a direct red for the Brazilian goalkeeper, and a chance for Inter to double the scoreline. Tottenham replaced Modric to put on their second keeper, Carlo Cudicini who would face Samuel Eto’o from the penalty spot. The Cameroon striker made his stuttering run up and powered the ball into the top left hand corner.
Things were going perfectly for Inter, and when Stankovic scored a third in the 14th after a well worked move, Tottenham were steadily sinking. The fourth goal was created by Coutinho in the 35th minute, a pinpoint through pass which Eto’o leaped on and finished past Cudicini.
Possession was left for Inter, and although Eto’o wasn’t as dangerous as he usually is, Coutinho and Sneijder often combined wonderfully to create chances for themselves and their teammates. The Brazilian Philippe Coutinho was arguably the man of the match, some great individual skill and perfect composure enured that his side kept the ball and were constantly dangerous.
In the second half we saw more of the same with continuos possession from Interas Tottenham offered sprints of attacking flair. And in the 51st minute one of these sprints paid off for Tottenham, a great run by Bale who squeezed through Inter defenders to move into the penalty box and drill the ball into the bottom corner. Julio Cesar didn’t even try to save the unstoppable shot.
The next two goals came at the end of the match, Bale copied his previous run to drill it again past Julio Cesar to make the score 4-2. And then the final goal came about thirty seconds later, same player, same corner. Bale received the ball at the top of the box and smacked it past Julio Cesar for a third time, completing his epic hat trick.
So what are your thoughts regarding this wild match which happened at the San Siro? Inter Milan will be travelling to White Heart Lane in the next Champions League matchday to replay Tottenham, what will happen there? Share your thoughts below!

Inter Milan Defeat Tottenham 4-3

Inter Milan Defeat Tottenham 4-3 - World Soccer Talk

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