I have no regrets about leaving Liverpool, despite Jurgen Klopp advising me not to

According to the Liverpool Echo, Philippe Coutinho has no regrets about his high-profile move from Liverpool to Barcelona, despite the fact that injury difficulties have hampered his career. The former Reds playmaker joined the La Liga giants for £146 million in 2018, where he won the league twice and achieved domestic glory in Spain. Coutinho immediately established himself as a major player and fan favourite at Anfield before departing in 2018.

Jurgen Klopp used the money from the Brazilian’s departure to sign Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, and his team went on to win local, European, and worldwide titles in the years since. Coutinho’s arrival came at a promising moment for the Reds, when the midfielder was one of their primary sources of attacking production, alongside Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane.

In the months preceding up to his departure in January, Liverpool faced uncertainty about his future. There was interest in Coutinho, but Klopp denied the allegations, claiming that the former Inter Milan player was not available for sale in the summer of 2017.

In 2017, Klopp warned: “Stay here, and they will construct a statue in your honor. Go to else, like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, or Real Madrid, and you’ll be just another player. Here, you may become anything greater.”

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Coutinho’s career has seen some success since leaving Liverpool, but injuries have slowed his growth. He would depart the Nou Camp in 2022, after loan stints with Bayern Munich and Aston Villa, to join former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard at Villa Park on a permanent basis.

However, his stint in the Midlands came to an end after a year under Unai Emery, and the 31-year-old currently plays in the Qatar Stars League with Al-Duhail after signing on loan. Many have indicated that Klopp’s words in 2017 have grown more pertinent as Coutinho’s troubles have continued, but the Brazilian believes he has no regrets six years after leaving Anfield.

“No,” Coutinho said. “He has no regrets. Things did not go as planned, as others anticipated, or as I expected since I am the first to demand of myself on the field; I tell myself that I must offer more on the field. I tried everything, I’ve always been professional, and I have no regrets.

“It was always my ambition to play for Barcelona, and I got there. I had a great time, met a lot of people, won a lot of trophies, and it will always be a part of my life narrative.