A frantic search to find a buyer began with the board at the Nou Camp making it clear they wanted their record buy off their books. An unlikely saviour arrived, however, in the form of Ronald Koeman, the former Everton manager who arrived in August 2020 and fought Coutinho’s corner.

Koeman’s intervention earned Coutinho a reprieve and, as unlikely as it had seemed when he was bombed out of the club the previous summer, the Brazilian was restored to the starting line up. Fate, though, had other ideas. A knee injury in December 2021, just as Coutinho was starting to establish himself in the side, would rule him out for the rest of the season. The comeback was over.

Out went Koeman and in came Xavi, who did play Coutinho but only out of necessity, rather than admiration.

It has been clear for some time that Coutinho is expendable and that the club were open to offers to one of their highest earners as they scramble to balance the books. His departure will go some way to helping fund the £52m purchase of Ferran Torres.

It has been a punishing four years for both Coutinho and Barcelona. Their demise is intertwined, Coutinho failing to live up to the price tag which is held up as an example of the club’s wild largesse. The Barcelona that Coutinho departs today sits fifth in La Liga, 15 points off Real Madrid.