Four years after they won the Champions League as team-mates, a £17 million Aston Villa man and a departing Liverpool favourite are heading into the summer transfer window with their futures very much in limbo.
At least, when it comes to Aston Villa’s forgotten man, there are a couple of clubs publicly vying for his signature.
Returning to the Midlands after a spell on loan in Qatar, Cruzeiro threw their hat into the ring for Philippe Coutinho recently. The most likely destination, however, appears to Vasco da Gama, Coutinho’s career coming full circle over a decade after he left his first club for Inter Milan.
Much to the delight of new Vasco coach Alvaro Pacheco – a footballer of Coutinho’s talents and experience is quite the welcome gift – president Pedrinho confirms that further talks will be held with the one-time Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool playmaker in the coming days.
Philippe Coutinho could leave Aston Villa for Brazil
“Coutinho’s presence causes an uproar. Inside my house too, my son asks every day!,” Pedrinho laughs, speaking to UOL. “But, being very truthful, he obviously has a contract with Aston Villa. The most important thing is that he is very interested in coming to Vasco.
“And we are very interested in bringing this great player and fan idol.”
HITC understands that there is hope, at Vasco da Gama, that Coutinho will be allowed to leave for free. With his contract running until 2026, however, that feels unlikely. Aston Villa would prefer to sell – preferably to clubs in Saudi Arabia – but may also be open to a loan deal so long as Coutinho accepts a substantial wage cut.
“Now, this is not an easy move,” Pedrinho warns. “A positive development is that both parties have a lot of interest. This week, probably after Vasco versus Flamengo (on Sunday), I will have a meeting with him. And then we will have a greater direction.
“So far, just phone conversations. Now, when we sit down and talk, we will understand reality. And then, yes, think about the next step.”
Thiago Alcantara leaving Liverpool on free transfer
Pedrinho, while stoking the flames of one transfer saga, is reluctant to light another. There are no talks, he says, with Thiago Alcantara, Coutinho’s former Bayern Munich team-mate and treble winner on his way out of Liverpool when he becomes a free-agent in July.
“The only conversation we had was with Philippe Coutinho,” Pedrinho explains when quizzed about those Thiago rumours. “We didn’t have any other conversations with any other player.
“And we need to be very truthful, transparent and realistic with the fans. I will truly explain what the likely investment prospects are.”
A £27 million signing from the German giants in 2020, Liverpool have announced that Thiago will leave this summer alongside fellow Bundesliga import Joel Matip. Turning 33 in April, injuries restricted a man who has always suffered with fitness issues to just one appearance during a highly frustrating final season under Jurgen Klopp.
“Before he even came to Liverpool, I believed that if you really love football it would make a lot of sense if you watched Thiago Alcantara play,” Klopp said in an emotional tribute in May.
“Technically, he is so, so good. A talent who could play in any team in the world and it was a privilege to have him with us.
“I already knew a lot about him as a footballer before he got here – what he did at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, how could you not? – and I could not have been happier when he decided to take on a new challenge with us.
“From that point on I got to see him up close and all I can say is; ‘Wow’. Most importantly, he was part of a new story and helped us develop as a team because of his special qualities.
“I know injuries have been a frustration for him and also for us but the level that he was able to play at when he was available was incredible. This is what I will remember.
“Now he will go in a new direction with his family and we can only wish them well. Wherever he plays next I would be happy to watch. An artist of the game who will only ever paint the most beautiful pictures.”
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