Luis Suarez welcomes Philippe Coutinho transfer

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Bengaluru, December 20: Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has insisted that his former Liverpool teammate Philippe Coutinho would be welcome at the Blaugrana, with the Nou Camp set to make a move in January for the playmaker.

The 25-year-old was the subject of three Barca offers in the summer and even handed in a transfer request, but Liverpool held firm and managed to retain the Brazilian.

Coutinho has been in a tremendous run of form for Liverpool since then but is still believed to be eager on a move to Barcelona.

Suarez, who remains good friends with his former Anfield team-mate, says he and Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann would fit right in at Barcelona.

Suarez told Spanish radio: "Both Griezmann and Coutinho are elite players that are playing at the top level.

"They are where they are for a reason.

"They're both young and have long careers ahead of them. And Barca always want the best players.

"If you look at [Griezmann], at Atletico he needs to play with a No 9. He's not a fixed No 9.

"Obviously, Griezmann would come here to add to the team and to help the side in the position that the coach wants him to play."

Suarez's team-mate and Barcelona skipper Andres Iniesta also heaped praise on Coutinho recently saying he would be an "important reinforcement" for Ernesto Valverde's side.

Barcelona players have a record of going public over the club's transfer targets but Suarez doing the same on a Liverpool player was hardly expected.

Liverpool fans still love the Uruguayan dearly despite him leaving the club for Barcelona and these comments will surely hurt them.