Former €160 million Barcelona flop reflects on struggles at club – ‘That is football’ | OneFootball

It was in January 2018, six months after Neymar had left the club in a world-record €222 million deal, that FC Barcelona splashed the big bucks to rope in Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool.

The Brazilian playmaker became the most expensive acquisition in the club’s history, arriving for a mammoth fee of €160 million, months after the Catalans had spent €105 million on Ousmane Dembele.

Great things were expected of Coutinho at Barça, with Andres Iniesta having entered the final phase of his career at the club. But things never got going for him despite a bright first six months or so.

Coutinho reflects on Barcelona struggles

Now, seven years later, Coutinho has spoken about that chapter of his career in Premier League Stories (h/t SPORT), reflecting on why things did not work out for him at Barcelona.

“It was my dream to play for Barcelona. Then the opportunity came, and I could not say no to my dream,” he said.

Coutinho was at the peak of his powers and a firm fan-favourite at Liverpool at the time and many pleaded with him to stay at Anfield. But when Barcelona call, few players hesitate.

“We had many conversations about staying, about leaving, but in the end the club accepted and I went to Barcelona. The start was really good. My first six months were great. We won a title and I was playing very well,” he recalled.

Coutinho plays for Vasco da Gama in Brazil currently. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

But after the 2018 World Cup in Russia, things took a turn, admitted Coutinho.

“The next season, after the World Cup, I was not in the same form. My performance dropped, and that was hard for me. I wanted to live up to the expectations, mine as well, but I could not.”

From that point, Coutinho’s trajectory spiralled downwards. The most expensive signing in Barça’s history was shuffled around in different positions, struggled with confidence and injuries, and never truly connected with the fans.

What was meant to be a new era became a frustrating chapter, culminating in a loan move to Bayern Munich, with the Brazilian scoring for the Bavarians against his parent club in the infamous 2-8 defeat.

Despite everything, Coutinho holds no bitterness toward Barcelona, as he said: “I have no regrets. At some clubs, it went well, at others not so much. But that is football. I am only grateful for every place I have been.”

“That period was very challenging for me, but I leaned on my family and my faith. I have always believed in God. That helped me stay strong,” he concluded.