Liverpool have received a huge boost after Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho revealed he has no interest in moving to Spain and wants to stay at Anfield for the rest of his career.
Coutinho, 24, put pen to paper on a new long-term contract with Liverpool earlier in the week to cool talk of a move to Barcelona where he would join up with close friend and international teammate Neymar.
However, even news of Coutinho’s new deal was not enough to convince some fans he would remain at Anfield for the foreseeable future having already seen Luis Suarez leave the club to join the Spanish giants in 2014.
Nevertheless, the Brazil international insists he has no interest in playing football anywhere else than Liverpool after finding a place where he can be free on the pitch
“I believe in finding somewhere you can express yourself, play without fear, play with everything you have,” Coutinho told The Daily Mail. “This club, Liverpool, it has a plan. To be back on the top and that’s what I believe in. I want to be part of that.
“From the owner, the manager, my team-mates. There is nothing that stops us competing with the big clubs. Clubs in England. Clubs in Europe, Yes, clubs like Barcelona. Why not?.
“This is a great club. I remember how helpful everyone was when I first came to England. They made me welcome, comfortable. They removed any obstacles, they allowed me to think first about football and second about football. I remember that. For certain, I am comfortable here, my family is comfortable here. No doubts.”
Coutinho has cemented his place as one of the best players in the Premier League in the last two campaigns and Liverpool will be delighted to have their No.10 back at full fitness following a two-month absence with ankle ligament damage.
Indeed, only five players have a higher WhoScored rating in the Premier League this season than Coutinho (7.63), while no player has scored more goals from outside the box in the last two seasons (7).
For more stats on Philippe Coutinho, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
