Philippe Coutinho has returned to his boyhood club in Rio de Janeiro on a season-long loan from Aston Villa.
The former Liverpool superstar, who joined Barcelona for an astonishing £145million in 2018, has struggled to find a long-term home since leaving the Nou Camp, first joining Bayern Munich and Aston Villa on loan before signing for the Premier League outfit in 2022.
The 32-year-old Brazilian temporarily left Villa Park last campaign in a season-long loan move to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Duhail, but only managed to score three goals in 16 appearances.
Now, Coutinho has opted to return to his roots by signing for his boyhood club Vasco da Gama in Rio.
'It’s a feeling of great happiness, joy and anxiety,' the winger said. 'I lived abroad for a long time, so it really is a feeling of coming home, to the place where I grew up, to the place I love, the club I love.
'Everyone, my family, knows how happy I am and they are all happy about this return.'
Coutinho came through Vasco da Gama's youth academy before being scouted by Serie A giants Inter Milan in 2008.
He impressed at the San Siro as a youngster ahead of signing for Liverpool in 2013, where he spent another five years before moving to Barcelona in still one of the most expensive transfers of all time.
During his time at Anfield, Coutinho made 152 appearances for the Reds and netted 41 goals.
His sale fee enabled Liverpool to sign a handful of important players under Jurgen Klopp, including Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.
Vasco da Gama, who sit 13th in the Brazilian top flight after 15 games, will hope Coutinho can link up quickly with former West Ham and Marseille star Dimitri Payet, 37, who joined the club in 2023.
Payet has so far been battling with hamstring injury setbacks this season, starting just four of Vasco da Gama's league matches since April.
Pseh18
0
Barcelona destroyed his career.
What about Hazard🤣?
Hiabceorz
0
haw are you
Pawapstyz
1
hi please back barzil
mapbcelt
1
he should've stayed with us. he was developing well, and we loved him
rumemruz
0
What about Hazard?😭🤣🤣
He won ucl and la liga for Madrid
AFerLLur2274
0
Another varcelona hyper
What about Hazard?😭🤣🤣
Edoo87
2
he was in Qatar
vuaabdipu
5
Philippe Coutinho never achieved what he could've in his career
coteknos
5
He was not good enough for Spanish League
fforfaruQ
5
Barcelona just destroyed him.Just look at this poor lad from Liverpool's heartthrob to Vasco da Gama.🥀
Don Zayo
0
I still feel sorry what Valverde miss placed his position and destroyed his career. ☹️
You people knew the position he plays and you know you people don't play that formation, then why did you go for a player you know doesn't fit into your formation
Don Zayo
4
Barcelona destroyed his career.
rumemruz
0
Another varcelona hyper
Joelinhocent
2
Coutinho, if only you were to listen to Klopp at that time just certainly you could have perhaps won yourself a a balloon D’or or better still had a statue at Anfield in your name, I wish you all the best at home.
Emperor10
0
Well there's no place like home.
hewckostuz
2
all the best
Pazaclprsy
3
Best of luck baller never too old start another journey, to every finish line is a beginning of a new one
mithu30
4
waste of money by FCB
cukaloptz
1
aslm
deecdeloyz
1
hmmmmmm is a good lesson we have to learn each day think deeper for every step u take. Don't allow money sometimes to change you but have a Spirit of control. all the best Bro
Yeaabdelt
2
very bad,what if you could have only stayed at liverpool😟😟😟😟😟
Kohmarz
5
I still feel sorry how Velvarde destroyed the magician’s career. As a Barca fan i will never forgive you the useless coach.
nosikumwangelwa
0
from hero to zero
Kohmarz
1
I still feel sorry what Valverde miss placed his position and destroyed his career. ☹️
Neitsizozumvu
1
good, luck boy
SylvaJnr
4
So painful to see our "little magician" fall this bad. Best of Luck
SylvaJnr
0
So painful to see "our little magician" fall this bad. Best of Luck
racbrtuyz
2
he is the Brazilian Pogba