What does Barcelona handing Griezmann the no.7 shirt mean for Coutinho? Could this signal the end of times for the Brazilian at Camp Nou?
Philippe Coutinho walked in to Barcelona as the next big thing. Seen as a replacement to the outgoing Neymar, the Catalans paid a titanic £142m. This figure would go on to be a bane for the former Liverpool playmaker for he was condemned to be judged by it forever.
Also read: Barcelona set a massive release clause for Antoine Griezmann
Poor performances meant that Coutinho started more from the bench than the starting 11. On more than one occasion he has even found himself being booed by his own fans. To make matters worse, rumors of his departure has been doing the rounds lately and has become even louder now that Antoine Griezmann has joined Barcelona.
007 Griezmann
The French striker was signed for an astronomical €120 million and is touted to play in the front with Lionel Messi and Suarez. To make matters worse for the Brazilian, Spanish Outlet AS have reported that Barca will give Griezmann the no.7 shirt from Coutinho’s back.
Griezmann has worn the no.7 shirt all through his career. The reason given behind is that it’s the same one his idol, David Beckham, used to wear. The French striker had once said about the no.7 shirt:
“I feel comfortable with that number.”
“I could easily play with another number, you know. It’s not a problem, but it’s nice that it gives people a way of recognising me.”
Coutinho will most likely end up as a bargaining chip in Barcelona’s attempts to bring Neymar back to Camp Nou. With his future hanging on a thread, Griezmann being handed the no.7 shirt looks a lot like the final nail in the coffin of his Barcelona career.
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