Brazilian legend Rivaldo has warned Philippe Coutinho over a transfer to Liverpool this summer.
The 27-year-old Barcelona midfielder has somewhat struggled since securing his £142million move to Camp Nou in January 2018, and appears increasingly likely to depart in the coming weeks.
Coutinho continues to be linked with a return to Anfield, but this is not the correct move in the eyes of Rivaldo.
“We all know that Philippe Coutinho played his best football at Liverpool, and I always believed that he could replicate it at Barcelona, but things haven't been going that way,” the Brazilian icon told Betfair.
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“The chance of a return to Liverpool could be beneficial for him, but I'm not sure if he is thinking of going back to England.
“He might stay at Barcelona to try to raise his game and prove his value, showing that he can get through that bump in the road.
“He is coming back from winning a Copa America title and his confidence is high, so it's hard to say if he'll stay or go.
“I really appreciate his qualities as a player and think he has time to show his best at Camp Nou this season. Let's wait and see.”
If the Brazilian playmaker is to re-join the Reds, there are questions over where he would now play and whether or not he would be able to readjust to Liverpool’s style.
But Rivaldo believes the biggest issue of all regarding this move is the amount of pressure Coutinho would be under to perform.
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“If he decides to join Liverpool, they will become stronger, but they are European champions and that will add more pressure for him, as it's tough to win it successively.
“It would be a big challenge for both club and player”, said Rivaldo.
“Remember, they were Champions League finalists and then winners in consecutive seasons after Coutinho's departure, so if he does return, he'll face that extra burden to win trophies for them.”
