Philippe Coutinho is "phenomenon" and "spectacular" - Thiago Alcantara
Reported Newcastle United target Philippe Coutinho has been described as a "phenomenon" and "spectacular" by Bayern Munich teammate Thiago Alcantara, who wants him to remain at the club next season.
With Newcastle on the verge of a potentially lucrative takeover, numerous high-profile players and coaches have been linked with the Magpies, with fans hoping they will have a huge transfer budget going forward.
One such player said to be on Newcastle's radar is Coutinho, with Brazilian outlet Metropoles claiming the Barcelona-owner player is the Magpies' "dream signing", as their prospective new owners look for marquee acquisitions.
Coutinho is on a season-long loan at Bayern, having struggled to impress at the Camp Nou since joining from Liverpool for £130million in January 2018, and according to Mundo Deportivo (print edition, front page, 30/4/20), the Catalans want 100million Euro (£87million) for the Brazilian.
Thiago hopes that his compatriot continues at Bayern, telling La Vanguardia: "I know him (Coutinho) well. He's very good. I've seen him play since he was 12 years old. I played futsal against him in Brazil and I was spellbound by him.
"I don't think he has any weaknesses. I love playing with high-level footballers and he is a phenomenon. He is a spectacular guy, very hard-working, with an unbeatable technique and incredible definition. The players go through good and not so good moments and he is giving us a lot. We hope to have him next year too."
source: https://tbrfootball.com/teammate-says-newcastle-linked-87m-star-is-a-phenomenon-doesnt-want-him-to-leave/