Manchester United signing Philippe Coutinho would be ‘pointless’, says Dimitar Berbatov, who believes the Barcelona misfit may need to ‘take a step back to go forwards’.
Coutinho is currently on loan at Bayern Munich but the Bundesliga champions have chosen not to take up an option to sign him permanently.
Tottenham attempted to sign the Brazil international on loan last summer and the 27-year-old has once again been linked with a return to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Newcastle also reportedly interested.
United have also been linked with a move for the former Liverpool playmaker but Berbatov has warned his former side are already well stocked in that position.
Berbatov told Betfair: "Everyone thought he would do great when he moved to Barcelona but it didn't work out, sometimes you need to step back to go forwards, he will go to a good team there is no question about that, but he needs the trust of a manager to believe in him and make him the main man so that he can play calm and be free to do what he does.
"Other people will see him linked with a move to United and they will point out his connections with Liverpool and how he would never be forgiven if he switched to Old Trafford, but honestly, United don't need him right now.
"Bruno Fernandes is a very similar player; he really hit the ground running and looks to be a very promising signing so I don't think there would be any point in United signing him. Pogba is coming back, Fernandes is there, McTominay is producing great football as well, they have enough quality there so signing Coutinho would be pointless."
