Coutinho, an attempt at rebirth in the shadow of Neymar

The matches friendly from Thursday and Sunday against Senegal and Nigeria, in Singapore, will be a real test for the 27-year-old offensive midfielder, who is starting to smile again at Bayern Munich after a disappointing pass in Barcelona.

In January 2018, the Catalan club had disbursed 120 million euros (and 40 M EUR bonus), third most expensive transfer in history, to recruit the one who was seen as the successor of Neymar, left six months earlier at PSG.

But Coutinho has never won in Barça, who has it loaned this season to Bayern with option to purchase. The infancy are rather promising, with two goals and two assists in the Bundesliga.

Even the Catalan press has recognized that another player since he arrived in Munich, it looks like he's starting to love football again, "said the daily 'Sport' after the Brazilian open his goal counter in Germany during the 4-0 win over CologneSeptember 21st.

"It looks like he's dancing with the ball"said his Bavarian coach Niko Kovac a week later, after another game full of his number 10, with a goal and an assist.

The Brazilian coach Tite has already expressed several times his desire to see him "to regain Liverpool's level", where he shined for five years.

During the Copa America, Coutinho was supposed to enjoy the absence of Neymar on injury to establish itself as a true technical leader of the Seleçao.

Voted best player of the first matches, it is then returned to the ranks, leaving the spotlight to young people Everton and Gabriel Jesus during the tournament won by Brazil in July.

"He did a discreet Copa America. In the absence of Neymar, he had more freedom to express oneself at Midfielderbut did not not really benefited", says AFP Carlos Eboli, sports commentator of the Brazilian radio CBN.

Everton threat

Since the World Cup-2018, where he was one of the only Brazilians to survive, the player trained at Vasco de Gama is aligned in Seleçao in the axis and not on the left wingas was the case in Barça.

During the friendly matches of September, against the Colombia (2-2) and the Peru (1-0) Coutinho and Neymar have replayed together, the star of the PSG found his left side.

But Titus intends to test more and more "Ney" in the axis, as already Thomas Tuchel for more than a year at PSG. What would replace Coutinho left, where he often played Liverpool?

"Coutinho's place in the holder is seriously threatenedbecause there are a lot of good players more successful than him left", Explain Carlos Eboli, quoting Everton jewel of Gremio coveted by many great European clubs, or Bruno Henrique, winger of Flamengo called during the last friendly.

David Neres, one of the great revelations of last season with Ajax, is also on the ranks.

Rest right side, or Coutinho had been aligned before the World Cup-2018, with Neymar on his left.

But again, Brazil does not lack talented players, even though the post has been occupied recently by advanced attackers playing against-use, as Gabriel Jesus or Richarlison.

Thursday, Neymar will be keen to shine for his hundredth selectionagainst Senegalese vice-champions of Africa. It remains to be seen whether Coutinho, who has been around since the youth categories, will be up to the occasion.