Barcelona hail ‘bargain’ £142m deal for Philippe Coutinho

Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre claims they signed Philippe Coutinho at a reduced cost despite his £142m (€161m) transfer fee being the second-most expensive in history.

The Catalans had three bids rejected for the Brazil international in August but, at his official presentation to the media in the Camp Nou, the 25-year-old thanked Liverpool for “keeping their word”.

Coutinho, who is reported to have paid £9m (€10.2m) — rising to £11.5m (€13m) — out of his own pocket to facilitate the transfer, has cost Barcelona an initial £105m (€119m) up front with a further £37m (€41.9m) in achievable add-ons.