Luis Suarez sends message to Philippe Coutinho over Man Utd transfer.

Luis Suarez has urged Philippe Coutinho to stay at Barcelona and continue to fight for his place amid transfer links to Manchester United.

Despite only joining Barcelona just over a year ago, Coutinho has been tipped to return to the Premier League after a difficult first full season in Spain.

Coutinho has been unable to replicate the form he showed at Liverpool at the Nou Camp, but Suarez insists the Brazilian must accept he will always face criticism as a Barcelona player.

‘Barcelona players have to live with constant criticism: you have to have the internal mental strength to overcome bad moments,’ Suarez said.

He is talking about himself, but he applies that to Barcelona’s other ex-Liverpool player.

‘Philippe is a friend, he’s young, and I try to advise him. At Liverpool he proved the player he is. It was hard for me and I told him it would be the same.

‘You have to accept criticism but the most important thing is that he’s comfortable, happy, his team-mates trust in him, the manager trusts in him.’

‘Players are exposed,’ he continued. ‘The smallest thing you do – tiny, like Philippe did – is made bigger.