After a disappointing first full season, the playmaker has now accepted that his dream move has fallen flat and feels there is no way back.
As such, he has informed Nou Camp chiefs that he believes his future now lies away from Barca.
Coutinho arrived from Liverpool in January 2018 to much fanfare, with a £142m price tag weighing heavily on his shoulders. Touted as the star who would fill the outgoing Andres Iniesta’s boots, the Brazilian was under pressure from the off.
His goalscoring form seen in the Premier League subsequently failed to materialise and he was dropped by boss Ernesto Valverde in favour of Ousmane Dembele.
Barca bigwigs were concerned by the lack of impact from their big money signing, but Coutinho was given the benefit of the doubt.
But now, according to Spanish radio station Cadena SER, the player himself has become wracked with doubts amid his lack of impact.
The Catalan giants suffered a humiliating Champions League exit at Coutinho’s former Anfield stamping ground.
The 4-0 defeat shook the club to its foundations and Barcelona are in the midst of plotting a summer squad overhaul as a result.
Coutinho’s agents have reportedly told Barcelona that their 26-year-old client feels unable to see out the remainder of his contract. But the La Liga champions are aware that there are few clubs rich enough to take the player off their hands.
As a result, Barca are prepared to lower their asking price to just north of £90m, according to the report. Coutinho is prepared to bide his time in order to suss out what clubs may be interested in him.
Barca want to keep the situation quiet for fear of weakening their bargaining position when it comes time to sell.
They see the situation as a ‘game of chess’ with Coutinho now looking like an over-priced pawn. The former Inter star’s Nou Camp contract runs until 2023.
