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Philippe Coutinho Opens Up About Why His Barcelona Move Failed
Now playing for Vasco da Gama in Brazil, Philippe Coutinho is trying to rediscover his top form but hasn’t forgotten his disappointing stint at FC Barcelona. Speaking with honesty and self-reflection, he discussed why his time between 2018 and 2022 didn’t live up to expectations.
While Barça has been rebuilding successfully under Hansi Flick, the club’s past mistakes in the transfer market — with high-profile flops like Antoine Griezmann, Malcom, Ousmane Dembélé, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Miralem Pjanic — still linger. Among these, Coutinho’s €160 million signing from Liverpool stands out.
Initially, Coutinho impressed during his first six months at Camp Nou, helping Barça win trophies. However, he admitted that after the 2018 World Cup, his performances dropped sharply. “My first six months were really good, but after the World Cup, things changed. I couldn’t meet expectations, neither my own nor others’,” he confessed to Brazilian media.
Coutinho later spent time on loan at Bayern Munich — winning the Champions League — and at Aston Villa, who made his move permanent in 2022. Now at 32, he’s playing regularly for Vasco da Gama, scoring 5 goals and assisting twice in 16 matches during the 2024-25 season, while remaining under contract with Aston Villa until 2026.
Despite the struggles at Barcelona, Coutinho’s career is far from over. He remains passionate and eager to continue making an impact in football.
