Fresh Injury Means Philippe Coutinho May Have Made Final Bayern Munich Appearance

Reports in Spain claim that Philippe Coutinho may have played his final game for Bayern Munich, as he faces another six weeks out with injury.

The Brazil international has spent much of the Covid-19 lockdown recovering from an ankle injury, after undergoing surgery late last month. A Barcelona statement at the time confirmed Coutinho had gone under the knife on 24 April, and put a 14-day timescale on his rehabilitation period.

That window has now passed, and it had looked as if things had lined up neatly and tidily for Coutinho's return when German football recommences next weekend. Things have rarely gone to plan for the 27-year-old over the last two years or so though, and Mundo Deportivo are reporting another major setback which could bring a premature end to his loan spell in Germany.

The Spanish outlet are claiming there has been a complication in his recovery that will leave him unable to play for a minimum of six weeks.

Given that the plan for the Bundesliga is to conclude the season on the weekend of 27 June - seven weeks from now - that new timeline would mean there is a very real risk that Coutinho returns to Barcelona in the summer having not added to his 32 appearances for the Bavarian giants.

It's expected Coutinho will remain at Bayern as he undergoes his recovery, but the outlet do note that the situation could change - tentatively suggesting that the loan could be extended to allow him to play a part in Bayern's Champions League campaign which is pencilled in to resume on 7/8 August.

That eventuality seems unlikely at this stage, however, but there is little certain about the footballing calendar as Europe's major leagues scramble to finish their domestic seasons.

France have already curtailed their campaign, but the remainder of Europe's top five leagues remain steadfastly determined to play out their remaining fixtures. La Liga are looking to resume by 20 June, while the Premier League and Serie A could follow shortly after.

The delays could cause further disruption in Coutinho's future beyond this summer, as Barcelona are yet to decide what to do with him. He has long been linked with a permanent exit, and although almost every Premier League team with a few quid in the bank (including Leicester and Everton) have given it some thought, it has been reported that the Catalan club may give him the chance to revive his derailed career in Spain.

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