Coutinho sends classy public tribute to Barcelona after confirming exit

Philippe Coutinho has said it was a 'dream' to play for Barcelona with his permanent exit from the Camp Nou having been confirmed.

The Brazilian playmaker was announced as a full-time Aston Villa player on Thursday evening, the Premier League side activating their option to make his loan deal permanent. They have paid £17m for his services - a far cry from the reported £142m that Barcelona originally paid Liverpool for his signature back in 2017.

Coutinho never quite hit the heights expected of him in Spain though having struggled for consistency before a loan departure for Bayern Munich. Despite his inconsistent spell with Barcelona, the playmaker has penned a touching tribute to the Catalan giants as his five-year spell contracted to the club comes to an end.

Taking to Instagram, he wrote: “Playing for Barcelona was a childhood dream, which I was able to fulfill! I am grateful for all the experience I had at the club and today I end this journey by thanking all the athletes, coaching staff, fans and other employees who were part of it all.

Thank you @barcelona”

In the end, Coutinho only made 106 appearances for the Spanish giants in all competitions, scoring 25 goals. His performances have improved at Villa Park though.

Since arriving at the club in the January transfer window, he has scored four goals and provided three assists in 16 Premier League appearances. Those displays were certainly good enough for Villa to make the move to secure his services on a permanent basis, the midfielder penning a four-year contract to stay at Villa Park.

Upon the announcement of Coutinho's permanent signing, Villa boss Steven Gerrard was left waxing lyrical about his abilities and the club's efforts to get the transfer over the line. Speaking to the club's official website, he said: “This is a brilliant signing for Aston Villa. Phil is a model professional and his impact on the group has been very clear since he joined in January.

“With the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch, he's also a valuable role model for our younger players who can only benefit from his experience. As we look to build towards next season, it is incredible to work at a club that executes its business so decisively and smoothly.”

Coutinho - and indeed Gerrard - will no doubt be keen to finish their first seasons at Villa Park in a positive manner. The Midlands outfit are within touching distance of a top-half finish in the Premier League table.

They currently sit 12th with three matches of the season remaining. The side at first take on Crystal Palace at Villa Park before hosting relegation-threatened Burnley. Villa then round-off their season against Manchester City.