'I just wasn't able to' - Philippe Coutinho gets brutally honest on career after Liverpool

Philippe Coutinho opened up about his tumultuous stint at Barcelona following his £142million transfer from Liverpool. Despite struggles that led to a disappointing tenure with the Catalans, he maintains an unwavering sense of poise and assurance, declaring: "We had loads of conversations. At that time, I really wanted to move to Barcelona."

Shedding light on his rollercoaster journey post-Anfield, the now 32-year-old remains candid yet unrepentant, stating, "We had many discussions about staying, about leaving. But, eventually, the club agreed to let me go and I joined Barcelona."

Initially stepping into the hallowed turf of Camp Nou with verve and vigour, Coutinho dazzled in his early days, projecting the glow of potential greatness. However, he quickly discovered that filling the boots of the iconic Andres Iniesta, or slotting into the front three, was a herculean task rife with complexities.

Reflecting on the wavering arc of his trajectory in Spain, Coutinho admitted: "The beginning was really good. My first six months at Barcelona were great. We won a title and I was playing really well. But the following season, after the World Cup, I was not in the same shape. My performances dipped and that was tough for me. I wanted to meet expectations, my own expectations as well but I just wasn't able to [meet them].

"That period was really challenging for me but I leaned on my family and in my faith, I've always believed in God. That helped me stay strong through it all."

Coutinho clinched La Liga titles before an unexpected loan to Bayern Munich, where he shone by scoring in the 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona but was not signed permanently. His journey took a downturn with a serious knee injury and a lacklustre stint at Aston Villa under Steven Gerrard, leading him back to Brazil with Vasco da Gama.

Reflecting on his tumultuous time, Coutinho admitted: "I needed to change teams, right? I wasn't in Barcelona's plans anymore."

Acknowledging Gerrard's influence on his move to Villa, he added: "Well, it was mainly because of [Steven] Gerrard [that I joined Aston Villa]. He was the coach. I remember he called me on the phone and we talked and saw that there was this possibility to go there on loan. It was great to go there but things also didn't happen as we expected.

"I had this dream to play for Barcelona. Then the opportunity presented itself and I couldn't say 'No' to my dream.

"So, I have no regrets about everything I experienced, all the places I've been. I gave my all, was very professional and tried to do my best.

"It worked out well at some clubs, while not so much at others. But that's football. But I don't have any regrets, only thanks and gratitude for every club I've been at."

Despite a year remaining on his Aston Villa contract after his loan spell at Vasco Da Gama concludes this summer, Coutinho's future looks uncertain in the West Midlands.

Even at 32, Coutinho is not eyeing retirement and aims to increase his role within his charitable organisation 'Instituto Philippe Coutinho'.

During an emotional segment on Premier League Stories, he recounted his battle with adversity, particularly his injury phase: "When you are in that moment, especially when I had my injury, you end up disbelieving certain things, you have doubts.

"I haven't really thought about what it will be like after I retire. I see myself here (at Instituto Philippe Coutinho), maybe working here with the children, alongside my brothers."