Liverpool fans might have to fight off a familiar wave of fear after recent comments from a Barcelona star. But times have changed, and FSG should flip the script.
Philippe Coutinho was the last player that Liverpool lost against its will at the true peak of his powers. But the fear of Barcelona in the transfer market is deeply ingrained.
After all, it was not long beforehand that Luis Suárez had also booked himself on a flight from Liverpool to Catalonia. Going back further, Javier Mascherano had made the same trip to Barcelona.
The Coutinho move was different, in that Liverpool will have no regrets. Though FSG did not want to sell, it had got the club into a position where it could at least stand its ground until the price was truly ridiculous — that money was reinvested wisely, and Jürgen Klopp’s side has been in the ascendency over Barcelona ever since.
Even so, Liverpool fans have not yet completely unlearned the fear of the Nou Camp. Periodic transfer links over the years — involving Mohamed Salah, for instance — are always a source of nagging concern.
And while whispers are one thing, Barcelona stars talking up current Liverpool players tends to be the beginning of a concerted charm offensive. A little over a year before Coutinho made his move, for instance, Xavi was singing his praises as someone who could improve the team (via the Express).
As such, on-loan star João Félix singing the praises of Dominik Szoboszlai was not an especially welcome sight. Per Spiler TV, the forward picked out the Hungarian when asked to name anyone he would like to see join Barcelona: “Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai. I like his game, I think he can play here one day.”
