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What does Xavi’s arrival mean for Coutinho’s Barcelona future?

Philippe Coutinho, FC Barcelona
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The Brazilian midfielder has struggled to impress at Barcelona since joining for a club-record fee in 2018.

New Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez plans to offer Philippe Coutinho a clean slate.

The Brazil international has undergone yet another forgettable campaign at Camp Nou. In eight La Liga appearances, he has only scored once and failed to supply an assist for a Barcelona side lacking in creativity. His struggles have sparked talk of a Premier League return.

Indeed, under former manager Ronald Koeman, Coutinho looked a far cry from the player that cost the club €135 million to sign from Liverpool in January 2018. Doubts have also been raised over his attitude and relationship with the squad.

But a change in the dugout over the international break appears to have offered the 29-year-old one last chance in Catalonia.

Xavi to offer a clean slate

According to Mundo Deportivo, Xavi wants to offer Coutinho and the rest of the squad a fresh start. The new coach wants to speak with everyone to understand their intentions, how they process information, and see them in action during training. Only then will he decide how they figure into his plans.

If Coutinho can match Xavi’s standards, he’ll get another chance to impress under a third different manager after failing to do so under Ernesto Valverde and Koeman.

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