Breaking: Philippe Coutinho gives honest verdict on career after Liverpool – ‘I just wasn’t able’

Reflecting on his time since leaving Merseyside, Coutinho, now 32, is honest, admits it didn’t quite go to plan, but would do the same thing again. He says: “We had loads of conversations. At that time, I really wanted to move to Barcelona.

“We had many discussions about staying, about leaving. But, eventually, the club agreed to let me go and I joined Barcelona.”

Coutinho initially thrived in Spain, making a solid impression and showing that he could potentially shine. But he was neither a player to play wide left in Barca’s front three, nor to replace club legend Andres Iniesta, as had initially been envisioned. And before too long, the early promise had dissipated.

“The beginning was really good. My first six months at Barcelona were great. We won a title and I was playing really well. But the following season, after the World Cup, I was not in the same shape. My performances dipped and that was tough for me. I wanted to meet expectations, my own expectations as well but I just wasn’t able to.

“That period was really challenging for me but I leaned on my family and in my faith, I’ve always believed in God. That helped me stay strong through it all.”

Although he clinched La Liga titles with Barcelona in 2017-18 and 2018-19, he was unwanted not long after and allowed to move on loan to Bayern Munich. In Bavaria, he helped Bayern win the treble, even scoring twice in an 8-2 Champions League demolition of his parent club, but Bayern opted not to take up the option to sign him permanently. Coutinho’s future became uncertain as both clubs opted not to retain him permanently.

After a serious knee injury caused more problems back at Camp Nou, an underwhelming spell at Aston Villa under Steven Gerrard, followed. Since then, the Brazilian playmaker has returned to his roots, back home with Vasco da Gama.

“I needed to change teams, right? I wasn’t in Barcelona’s plans anymore,” he said. “I needed to play, right? And go to a club that wanted me.

“Well, it was mainly because of [Steven] Gerrard [that I joined Aston Villa]. He was the coach. I remember he called me on the phone and we talked and saw that there was this possibility to go there on loan. It was great to go there but things also didn’t happen as we expected.