Coutinho urges Moura to join Inter

Philippe Coutinho says he would love to see Inter target Lucas Moura join him at San Siro, labelling his fellow Brazilian ‘a phenomenon’.

Inter appear to be locked in a bidding war with Manchester United for the Sao Paulo starlet, as Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson said on Monday that he is keen to lure the attacking midfielder to Old Trafford.

However, Coutinho is hoping that Lucas ends up at Inter instead.

“He’s a fantastic player, a phenomenon,” the 20-year-old told Tuttosport. “Should he come, he would help us a lot and I hope he arrives.”

For the time being, though, Coutinho is focusing his attentions towards nailing down a regular place in the Inter side after a successful loan spell at Espanyol.

“I have returned from Catalunya stronger,” he said. “Playing so many games in a row was fundamental to my growth because it had been so long since I had done that.

“It is important to have self-confidence and feel the support of your environment, but that only comes from playing game after game.

“It makes you feel better and also makes you feel important.”