The 23-year old, who was ruled out for a large portion of the season after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in a knee while on international duty with Uruguay, is looking to be fit for this summer’s World Cup in Brazil and it’s believed that Liverpool are keen to let him return to South America for the remainder of this campaign as he works his way back from injury.
Talks are apparently ongoing between the two clubs as the defender, who is already in Montevideo, confirmed with a local radio station. “It would be beautiful to join Nacional and complete my recovery in Uruguay with my family and friends,” the 23-year old told Radio El Espectador 810. “The negotiations can be hard sometimes and we have to wait a bit.”
Coates has endured a hard spell at Anfield since moving from Nacional under former Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish in August of 2011 for a fee believed to be around £7mil. The defender was a hot property following a number of standout performances as Uruguay romped to their 15th Copa America title – their first since 1995 – but has cooled substantially in the interim with only 24 first team appearances to his name. Maybe a spell back in familiar territory is exactly what he needs to re-ignite his career; and maybe it’s exactly what Liverpool need to get rid of him.
Time will tell…
