Philippe Coutinho has struggled at Aston Villa since his loan move from Barcelona was made permanent last summer.
The Brazil international’s situation at Villa Park has attracted attention from a few clubs from his homeland, including Corinthians. Their desire to sign him was confirmed by their president, Duílio Monteiro Alves.
Corinthians have given up on the possibility to secure the Aston Villa player’s services.
Roberto de Andrade, the football director of the South American club, has now explained why his side won’t be able to bring the 30-year-old back to Brazil.
“Doesn’t matter. Coutinho is a player who doesn’t come to Brazil. The club [Aston Villa] will not release him. So, there is nothing,” De Andrade said, as quoted by Globo Esporte.
Globo state Aston Villa were hoping to receive proposals to sell the attacking midfielder but didn’t receive any offers. Corinthians, for their part, were hoping the Premier League side would be open to letting Coutinho leave on loan, which also didn’t happen.
De Andrade’s comment comes more than a week after Unai Emery insisted the player will be given a fresh opportunity to succeed at the Premier League side.
The coach handed him his first league start of this year in Aston Villa’s 3-2 defeat against Arsenal last weekend, where Coutinho got his name on the scoresheet.
