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Philippe Coutinho's Words About Leaving Liverpool Have Come Back To Bite Him

Philippe Coutinho's Words About Leaving Liverpool Have Come Back To Bite Him

The Barcelona midfielder left Anfield 18 months ago but after Liverpool's Champions League win it doesn't look like a great decision.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Liverpool winning the Champions League would have put big smiles on the faces of everyone connected with the club but for one ex player it would have been a reminder of what might have been.

Right now Liverpool have one of the best squads in world football. In defence and attack it's almost impossible to improve them and even their midfield, which could be improved, is still pretty bloody good.

It's mad to think then that just two years ago Philippe Coutinho was considered the club's best player, by quite some margin, and the thought of them losing the midfielder would have been a disaster.

The Brazilian decided he wanted to leave in the summer transfer window of 2017 for Barcelona but Jurgen Klopp managed to keep him until the following January.

Coutinho would have been hoping to kick on when he moved to the Nou Camp but instead things haven't gone well for him and he was knocked out of the Champions League this season by his own team before they went on to win the tournament.

And that win for the Reds and Coutinho's failings remind us of what he said when he left. Speaking to 8tv's 'Fora de Joc' in February 2018 the former Inter man said:

"Everyone knows that I wanted to come to Barcelona. It wasn't possible in the summer, but we worked so that it could be done in winter.

"I really want to win big titles, it was one of the reasons that made me sign for the club. I want to win as many as I can, I don't have preferences."

Coutinho walks off at Anfield after being subbed. Image: PA Images
Coutinho walks off at Anfield after being subbed. Image: PA Images

Since moving to Spain Coutinho has won La Liga twice and the Copa del Rey but it's come at a time when the Catalan giants are far better than their fierce rivals Real Madrid, at least in the league.

They had the chance to win the treble this season but messed up against Liverpool in the Champions League semi final after winning the first leg 3-0.

After wrapping up the league they then lost the final of the Copa del Rey to Valencia leaving them with 'only' the league.

Klopp and his players celebrate their success. Image: PA Images
Klopp and his players celebrate their success. Image: PA Images

There's been reports that the 26 year old could be sold in the summer with both Neymar and Antoine Griezmann being linked with moves to the Nou Camp.

It has not been a good 18 months for Coutinho, he'll have watched Liverpool win the Champions League on Saturday night and thought 'it could have been me.'

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Topics: Spurs, Liverpool, Football News, Barcelona, Philippe Coutinho, champions league final, tottenham, Transfer news, Champions League, Spanish football, La Liga