I AM SAD: Philippe Coutinho reveals whether he regrets leaving Liverpool for Barcelona
The Brazilian maestro left Anfield for Camp Nou back in January 2018. Yet Coutinho’s Catalan spell failed to live up to expectations, with the now 32-year-old struggling to replicate the scintillating form that marked his time at Liverpool. He’s recently reflected on his journey to Barcelona and the reasons behind the struggles faced there.
“We had loads of conversations. At that time, I really wanted to move to Barcelona,” Coutinho recalled, as quoted by the Liverpool ECHO. “We had many discussions about staying, about leaving. But, eventually, the club (Liverpool) agreed to let me go and I joined Barcelona.
“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.”
Despite bagging La Liga crowns with Barcelona in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons, Coutinho didn’t cut it long-term and was branded superfluous within 18 months. A sabbatical with Bayern Munich ensued, where despite clinching a treble, the German giants opted not to secure his services permanently.
Plagued by a knee injury back at Camp Nou, the Brazil international found his way to Aston Villa, signed by ex-Liverpool colleague Steven Gerrard. However, Coutinho’s time at Villa Park also soured, leading him back to Brazil on loan with former side Vasco da Gama.
Reflecting on his trajectory post-Liverpool, Coutinho acknowledges that things haven’t panned out as hoped in recent years. “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.
