Coutinho could say goodbye to Barca

It has not been the year Philippe Coutinho wanted. His top performance last year foreshadowed a reality that has meant he has hardly appeared at the Camp Nou this season.

The Brazilian, since his arrival, has always shown to be a huge bonus for the Catalan side. His quality, touch and desire for the ball have allowed to form a key part of midfield, but as a forward he has been disappointing. He always played well on the ball and his performance in front of goal began to be feared by all opponents.

When he arrived at Barcelona, many people asked for patience while Coutinho adapted to life at Spain's top club. But the ex-Liverpool man continued his scintillating form as shown in the Premier League and the Barca fans loved him from the get-go.

As a result, Barcelona raised their expectations and hoped that this season, Coutinho would continue his top class form, but he started to struggle. The fans and the public made it known on occasion that the '11' seemed to on a downturn in form.

In fact, 'Sport' confirms that the Brazilian is now considering the option of leaving Barcelona next summer and even discussed it with his compatriots over the international break.

At the moment, it is unknown as to whether the squad is aware of Coutinho's thoughts regarding his future, despite him sharing them with his Brazilian teammates.

This season, Coutinho has started 27 of the 41 matches he has played, posting a total of nine goals and four assists. It remains as a fact that the Barca man has already matched his goalscoring record, but those nine goals needed 19 more encounters.