“Things didn’t go as expected” – Player insists he doesn’t regret Liverpool exit despite it all going wrong

Philippe Coutinho has told Sport that he doesn’t regret leaving Liverpool for Barcelona.

The attacking midfielder established himself during his five-year spell with the Merseyside club and that convinced the La Liga side to secure his services.

Liverpool sold the 31-year-old to the Spanish giants in January 2018, after initially refusing to let him leave in the summer of 2017.

The Brazilian scored 54 goals and registered 45 assists from 201 matches for the English club. He had a good start to his Barca career before losing prominence at the Camp Nou.

Barca let him join Aston Villa on a loan deal in January 2022 before he was sold to them later that year. Taking his time at the Catalan club into account, Sport’s Àngels Fàbregues asked Coutinho if he regrets leaving Liverpool for Barca.

Responding to that, he said: “No. At no time. Things did not turn out as I imagined, as people expected, as I expected because I am the first to demand of myself on the field, I tell myself that I have to give more on the field. I tried everything, I have always been very professional and I don’t regret anything.

“It was always my dream to play for Barça and I went there, I enjoyed it, I was able to meet many people, win titles and it will always be in the story of my life.”

When asked what he could have changed about his time at Barca, Coutinho explained: “Nothing. I would not change anything. Going back is impossible, but as I said I don’t regret anything, I always gave my best in training as I do here and as I did last year and as I will do next year. If things fit well, great and if not, patience.”

Jürgen Klopp and Xavi Hernández will leave Liverpool and Barca respectively at the end of this season. Coutinho has backed Klopp or Hansi Flick to replace Xavi at the Camp Nou.