I was interested in joining Barcelona, confirms Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho has spoken about his failed move to Barcelona for the first time and confirmed he was interested in joining the Spanish giants over the summer.

Liverpool rejected several bids from Barcelona and even turned down in excess of £100m to keep hold of their No.10 despite his wish to leave.

Coutinho has slowly been integrated back into the Liverpool first-team after missing the start of the season through injury and now insists he is fully committed to Liverpool despite being denied a move to the Camp Nou.

“What happened was a job offer and, in life, sometimes you get interested; sometimes you don’t and, in my case, everyone knows that I got interested, my family too,” Coutinho told ESPN Brazil after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Burnley on Saturday, via The Guardian.

“As I have always said, it is great to receive an offer from such a great club like that [Barcelona]. But it is also a great honour being here. Liverpool is a great club worldwide. I’m here and I will give my best as always.

“It was a complicated month for me but as I have said, it is an honour to receive that offer but it is also an honour to wear this shirt, so what I can do is work hard and honour that on the field.

“It is all cool. I’m working hard, my thoughts are on the team’s goals, making a good season, with the national team too, doing my best to get there.”

It remains to be seen whether Barcelona will follow up their interest in Coutinho with another offer next summer but the 25-year-old has denied suggestions there is already an agreement in place.

“Not that I know of,” Coutinho continued. “I am in a place that I have always been given respect by everyone and I too respect everyone. I have conquered my space in four, five years and never had any problems with anyone – the fans, the board, my team-mates, the coaching staff.

“That has not changed. As I have said, in life, in every job you get an offer, interested or not. It is all in the past.”

Coutinho made his first appearance of the season in the Premier League at the weekend but was unable to inspire Liverpool to victory against Burnley before being replaced with 12 minutes of normal time remaining.

Despite only managing 78 minutes of league action this term, no Premier League player has managed more goals from outside the box since the start of last season than Coutinho (6).