Crystal Palace manager Frank de Boer does not believe Liverpool will be able to keep Philippe Coutinho: 'When somebody wants to leave, you know it is almost impossible that he stays'

  • Crystal Palace take on Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday in the Premier League
  • Liverpool will be without star man and Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho
  • Coutinho has tried to force move to Barcelona by handing in a transfer request 

Frank de Boer turned down Barcelona once in his playing days while at Ajax — but does not believe Liverpool will be able to retain Philippe Coutinho.

The Dutchman takes Crystal Palace to Anfield on Saturday to face a Liverpool side without their star Brazilian who has tried to force through a move to the La Liga giants by handing in a transfer request.

De Boer, 47, recalls being woken at midnight during the mid-90s by Barcelona’s assistant manager Carles Rexach ringing to say: ‘Johan Cruyff wants you to play for Barcelona.’ He explained: ’I had just made an agreement with Ajax for three years more and I said: “I'm sorry but I just agreed.” So at that moment I said no.

Liverpool have rejected a huge £114m bid from Barcelona for midfielder Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool have rejected a huge £114m bid from Barcelona for midfielder Philippe Coutinho

‘You hope the path that you go is the right way and at that moment, it was the right way.’ De Boer instead waited three-and-a-half years to join Barcelona, where he played for four seasons. 


‘Louis Van Gaal came and of course at that moment I was already 14-and-a-half years at Ajax if you count being a youth player,’ he added. ‘For me at that time everyone else had left and I was ready to make that step.’ Yet despite his own experiences, De Boer concedes that clubs are unable to prevent unhappy players from moving even if they are tied to long-term deals. 

This summer alone Virgil Van Dijk at Southampton, Chelsea’s Diego Costa and Coutinho at Liverpool are all attempting to crowbar their way out of their respective clubs to move to better ones.

Frank De Boer's Crystal Palace side face Liverpool at Anfield in  Premier League on Saturday

Frank De Boer's Crystal Palace side face Liverpool at Anfield in Premier League on Saturday

‘That is a very awkward situation, especially for the managers but also for the players,’ De Boer said. ‘It is very hard because you always want players who give 100 per cent for the team and show it every day in training. 

'When somebody is not happy and he wants to leave, you know it is almost impossible that he stays. Then you have to wait until the end of the transfer period and you are still always in doubt.

‘Is he going? Do I have to get another player? It is a very difficult job but you have to deal with it. There are no guidelines or studies for that. It happens to you and you have to deal with it. 

‘There is almost never a happy ending for one or two. Maybe for the player when he leaves for the club he wants to go to. Still he didn't train normally, he had maybe three weeks doing nothing on his own. It is always different if you are not playing games or training with the squad.’

Virgil Van Dijk and Diego Costa are attempting to force their way out of their respective clubs

Virgil Van Dijk and Diego Costa are attempting to force their way out of their respective clubs