Aston Villa attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho has told The Daily Mail that he does not regret leaving Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool for Barcelona.
Coutinho, who can also play as a winger, was on the books of Liverpool from January 2013 until January 2018.
The Brazil international moved to Liverpool from Inter Milan and left for Barcelona.
Barcelona reportedly paid Liverpool an initial transfer fee of £105 million.
Much was expected of Coutinho when he switched to Barcelona, but the Brazilian could not make a massive impact at Camp Nou and had a loan spell at Bayern Munich in 2019-20.
There were injury problems as well for Coutinho at Barcelona.
The former Liverpool star is now at Aston Villa and recently made his loan deal permanent for £17 million (Sky Sports).
Coutinho has said that he has no regret over leaving Liverpool despite his struggles at Barcelona.
Aston Villa’s Philippe Coutinho on Liverpool exit
The Brazilian told The Daily Mail: “I don’t regret anything. It’s all part of life’s ups and downs. It was my dream to play at Barcelona since I was a child. But now it’s in the past and I am looking forward to my future here.
“Also I learned a lot in that time. It was a very difficult time for me but it made me stronger in my head. From that point on it was important for me. I missed it a lot and now I feel more love for the game.”
Now flourishing
Philippe Coutinho may have struggled at Barcelona, but the former Liverpool star is now flourishing at Aston Villa.
The attacker is starting to get back to his best, and it seems that playing under his former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard is working wonders for him.
The Villa no. 23 has scored four goals and given three assists in 15 Premier League starts.
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