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Philippe Coutinho took pay cut, just like Suarez, Mascherano: Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre

Philippe Coutinho took a massive pay cut to join Barcelona from Liverpool in the last winter transfer window, Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre has claimed.

Philippe Coutinho was signed for £142 million by Barcelona from Liverpool during the January transfer window

Bengaluru, February 4: Second most expensive signing in the world, Philippe Coutinho, took a massive pay cut to join Barcelona in the last winter transfer window, Barcelona vice-president has claimed.

Coutinho completed his £142million move from Liverpool at the start of the January transfer window and has since engaged three times for the Catalan side.

Not worth 142 million pounds</a> | <a class=Espanyol 1 Barcelona 1 | Latest results" title="Not worth 142 million pounds | Espanyol 1 Barcelona 1 | Latest results" />Not worth 142 million pounds | Espanyol 1 Barcelona 1 | Latest results

Although he signed a new contract last season at Anfield which reportedly was handing him a £200,000 per week, the Brazilian was a distracted man at Liverpool after knowing the La Liga side has been attempting to sign him for a long time.

Liverpool rejected all offers from Barcelona back then and refused to buckle to the player’s demands. However, temptation got the better of them in the January window. They could not turn down the bid in the range of £142 million and sold the playmaker to Barcelona in the first week of January.

And now as per Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre, the playmaker took a huge pay cut to fulfil the dream of being at Barcelona just like former Liverpool players Javier Mascherano and Luis Suarez did when they signed for the Catalan club previously.

Speaking to Sport, Mestre said: "Yes, he made a big economic effort, like Mascherano and Luis Suarez in their day.

"This shows the desire they have to play at Barca."

The vice-president also suggested that Barcelona were a bit distracted after Neymar's shocking move to Ligue 1 side PSG. However, they overcome the situation and showed what they are all about by surging to the top of the La Liga table.

He added: "It was a little earthquake, because the trident was gone, and Ernesto Valverde, who had just arrived, would be left without him.

"But everyone did a great job, we didn't lose our nerve or go mad."

La Liga leaders Barcelona are on 58 points in 22 games and enjoy a nine-point advantage over second-placed Atletico Madrid. They are yet to lose a match in the league. Their arch-rivals Real Madrid, on the other hand, are placed fourth with 39 points in 21 games.

Story first published: Monday, February 5, 2018, 16:17 [IST]
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