Brazil legend Rivaldo has urged Phillippe Coutinho to consider his next move carefully amid speculation that he could return to Liverpool from Barcelona this summer.
The 27-year-old midfielder has disappointed at the Camp Nou since making the switch to La Liga 18-months ago.
Barcelona have signed Antoine Griezmann to boost their attacking options and Neymar could also make a big-money switch back to Catalonia from PSG. The Spanish champions could use Coutinho as a make-weight in a potential deal for Neymar while a return to Anfield has also been mooted in recent days.
Rivaldo thinks his countryman would be under pressure to deliver in a second spell at Liverpool after engineering an exit away.
"We all know that Philippe Coutinho played his best football at Liverpool, and I always believed that he could replicate it at Barcelona, but things haven’t been going that way.
“The chance of a return to Liverpool could be beneficial for him, but I’m not sure if he is thinking of going back to England.
“He might stay at Barcelona to try to raise his game and prove his value, showing that he can get through that bump in the road.
“He is coming back from winning a Copa America title and his confidence is high, so it’s hard to say if he’ll stay or go.
“I really appreciate his qualities as a player and think he has time to show his best at Camp Nou this season. Let’s wait and see.
“If he decides to join Liverpool, they will become stronger, but they are European champions and that will add more pressure for him, as it’s tough to win it successively.
“It would be a big challenge for both club and player.
“Remember, they were Champions League finalists and then winners in consecutive seasons after Coutinho’s departure, so if he does return, he’ll face that extra burden to win trophies for them.”
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