PSG made to regret not taking Barcelona up on Coutinho offer

During the conversations between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain over a move for Neymar, there was a moment that stunned the Catalan club. Both clubs had met in search of an agreement. The idea was to reduce the price of the deal by including players like Dembele, Todibo and Rakitic, while others, like Umtiti and Semedo, had also seen their names come up. 

It was at that moment that PSG complained to Barcelona that a few days before they had reached an agreement with Bayern Munich for the loan of Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian was a player that PSG liked and they lamented the fact he was no longer on the table in a part-exchange deal, as they would have liked. 

Coutinho had been linked with PSG for weeks and had even negotiated a possible contract with them, but Bayern moved quicker. PSG took to long to open the door to talks over Neymar and the train escaped them. 

Barça felt the offer from Bayern was a good operation because they got rid of a player they didn't want and his salary, while also receiving a fee for the loan. Interest over a permanent return to England had not materialised. In addition, it blocked Bale's only way out of Real Madrid, as the Welshman was of interest to the German side.