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Coutinho recovers from 'stress related' injury

Cape Town - Brazil national team doctor Michael Simoni says Philippe Coutinho has recovered from the stress of the "uncertainty about his future".

The 25-year-old Liverpool play-maker, who is a target for Barcelona, has not featured for his club this season.

A back injury was cited as the reason for his absence, with Coutinho, who handed in a transfer request earlier this month, most recently observed being put through his paces while on international duty as Brazil prepare to face Ecuador and Colombia in World Cup qualifiers.

Simoni was reported to have said "Coutinho back problem? He is OK now. The back problem was a matter of stress, it was something emotional.

"The uncertainty about his future led to him feeling stressed. Everything is solved now.

"Coutinho and I have been friends for years. I always treat his medical cases. All he needed was someone to give him a pep talk."

Barcelona have had three bids for Coutinho rejected by Liverpool.

Meanwhile Barcelona remain hopeful of securing a deal for Coutinho, Barca sporting director Robert Fernandez confirmed as the club presented €105 million capture Ousmane Dembele on Monday.

The Catalans have until Friday when the Spanish transfer window closes to agree a deal for Coutinho, who hasn't played for Liverpool since submitting the transfer request.

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