Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino can understand Philippe Coutinho leaving Liverpool for Barcelona.

Pochettino knows Coutinho, having worked with him at Espanyol.

He told Onda Cero: "With Coutinho, I know him from my time at Espanyol. I had six months with him at 17 years old.

"Barcelona is a special city for Brazilians. In Liverpool it is very cold and rains, it's hard to let an opportunity like this go.

"Also because he has been called by one of the best clubs in the world and the idea of playing with (Lionel) Messi pulls a lot."