Former Liverpool star insists he has no regrets leaving Liverpool

Philippe Coutinho

Former Liverpool star insists he has no regrets leaving Liverpool

Hassan Abdulsalam 08:46 - 10.12.2025

Philippe Coutinho says he has no regrets about leaving Liverpool for Barcelona in 2018, despite reports of behind-the-scenes friction with Jurgen Klopp.

Philippe Coutinho has reiterated that he does not regret leaving Liverpool for Barcelona, even as long-standing reports continue to suggest tension between the midfielder and manager Jurgen Klopp during the build-up to his 2018 transfer.

Coutinho signed for Liverpool as a fresh-faced youngster from Inter | Imago

The Brazilian departed Anfield in January 2018 in a blockbuster £142 million deal, Liverpool’s largest sale in history after producing some of the best form of his career.

Coutinho had scored 12 goals in 20 matches that season before sealing his dream move to the Camp Nou.

Coutinho had pushed for a transfer months earlier, submitting a request in the summer of 2017, only for Liverpool to reject it. Despite the setback, his performances remained elite, though reports indicated growing frustration behind the scenes.

A family member told Sky Sports News at the time that Coutinho felt disappointed with how Liverpool handled his desire to join Barcelona, saying the club made it difficult for players to leave “on amicable terms.”

Liverpool eventually relented in January, securing a massive profit on the player they had signed for just £8.5 million from Inter Milan in 2013.

What Coutinho said

He said, “No. At no time do I have any regret. Things did not turn out as I imagined, but I tried everything and I don't regret anything.”

He added that playing for Barcelona had always been his dream.

“I enjoyed it, I met many people, won titles… I would not change anything,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp later admitted the club had little realistic chance of keeping Coutinho once Barcelona intensified their pursuit.

“There was no other option. The club tried everything to convince Phil to stay… but it was his dream. He left Liverpool only for one club, and that was Barcelona,” he said.

Klopp noted that retaining an unhappy Coutinho would have been detrimental to both team morale and the player’s mindset.

“It would have been very difficult… he was not ready to do that anymore,” the Liverpool boss explained.