The Brazilian has finally spoken out about his controversial Liverpool exit, admitting that his Barcelona dream didn’t go as planned, but he says he has “no regrets.”
The Brazilian was once the creative heart of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, lighting up Anfield with moments of pure brilliance.
But in January 2018, Coutinho pushed for a move to Spanish giants Barcelona, a decision that left many fans feeling betrayed.
The saga, which included a suspicious back injury and long negotiations, ultimately ended with the Reds pocketing £142 million. Liverpool didn’t just survive after his departure- they thrived.
The Coutinho transfer fee helped fund the arrivals of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, key players in Liverpool’s Champions League and Premier League success. Meanwhile, Coutinho’s career didn’t quite follow the fairytale path he had envisioned.
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Coutinho and Liverpool: What went wrong
Now 32, Philippe Coutinho has opened up about that chapter in a recent appearance on Premier League Stories.
“I had this dream to play for Barcelona. Then the opportunity presented itself and I couldn’t say no to my dream.”
He spoke with honesty about the highs and lows of his post-Anfield journey.
“I have no regrets about everything I experienced, all the places I’ve been. I gave my all, was very professional and tried to do my best,” he said, acknowledging the ups and downs.
“It worked out well at some clubs, while not so much at others. But that’s football. But I don’t have any regrets, only thanks and gratitude for every club I’ve been at.”
Coutinho also shared how the transfer materialised: “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.”
While his initial six months in Spain were promising, he admitted things quickly turned.
“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.”
Through it all, he leaned on those closest to him.
“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.”