Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed that the Bundesliga champions have not activated their purchase option for Philippe Coutinho.
Barcelona’s Brazilian midfielder joined on a season-long loan last summer, but has failed to fulfil his potential in Bavaria and Rummenigge says the clause has now expired.
Coutinho, 27, arrived with the option to buy for €120million last August, but Bayern have opted not to exercise the deal, though Rummenigge did not totally close the door on a future for Coutinho in Germany.
“The option expired and we haven’t activated it,” Rummenigge told German magazine Der Spiegel.
“We’re going to plan our squad for next season and we’ll see if he still has a role to play with us or not.”
The former Liverpool star has failed to hit the heights he did at Anfield since moving to the LaLiga giants in a £142 million transfer in January 2008.
He struggled at the Camp Nou, but despite an upturn in his form for Bayern, where he has scored eight goals and set up another six goals in 22 Bundesliga matches, the German champions did not want to pay the release clause in his Barca contract.
Coutinho’s agent Kia Joorabchian admitted this week that the player’s future was yet to be decided.
Speaking to talkSPORT, relayed on The Metro, Joorabchian said: “At the moment, we have not spoken to anybody about any deals whatsoever.”
It seems there will be no shortage of options for Coutinho in the next transfer window, with a whole host of clubs said to be considering making offers.
As well as Liverpool and Chelsea, the likes of Leicester, Tottenham and Newcastle have all been named as interested parties, but Manchester United and Everton have been ruled out due to Coutinho’s Liverpool past.
