Barcelona set for windfall from Philippe Coutinho's move to Al Duhail

Barcelona are set to receive 50% of the profit that Aston Villa make from selling Philippe Coutinho to Qatari side Al Duhail, 90min understands.

The Brazilian is widely regarded as one of the biggest transfer busts in history thanks to his failed £142m move to Barcelona in 2018.

Coutinho managed just 17 La Liga goals in his time at Barca, with the lowlight of the deal coming when he scored a goal for Bayern Munich during a loan spell which helped knock his parent club out of the UEFA Champions League.

Villa secured the services of Coutinho for a reported £17m in summer 2022 from Barcelona following a six-month loan spell at the club. After bagging eight goal contributions during that initial period back in England, Coutinho's nosedived when his move to Villa Park was made permanent - contributing just one goal in 20 appearances.

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Manager Unai Emery confirmed on Friday that Coutinho was now surplus to requirements at Villa - following the signing of both Nicolo Zaniolo and Moussa Diaby this summer - and was 'close to leaving'.

"He [Coutinho] is close to leaving, but we are waiting to see if the deal is complete or not. Philippe is a very good person and always we have to respect him as a person, firstly," Emery said.

"Secondly, as a player, he has played at a very high level. He has not been consistent because of injuries and we decided with him speaking and agreeing with him to try that if something is good for him, and good for the club, and for the squad, we can let him leave.

"Then he can find his good performance as a player. Then it's whether he completes it or not."

90min understands that personal terms have already been agreed between Coutinho and Al Duhail, and the player has now travelled to Qatar to complete his medical.

While Barcelona lost over £120m on selling Coutinho to Villa for just £17m, sources have confirmed that they will at least recoup some extra cash when the forward's move to Qatar is finalised. Barca are due to receive 50% of whatever profit Aston Villa make from the sale, and while that won't be anywhere near the £142m they originally forked out for Coutinho, it'll be a nice post-transfer window bonus.

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