Coutinho committed to Liverpool despite intriguing 'job offer' from Barcelona
Philippe Coutinho conducted his first interview since last summer's transfer saga, claiming that there's no hard feelings after Liverpool denied him a chance to take up a "job offer' to presumably join Barcelona.
A move to the Camp Nou appeared to be on the horizon after the 25-year-old submitted a transfer request, which was followed by three offers, with the last bid reportedly worth as much as £119 million. All were ultimately rejected by Liverpool.
After making his first league start of the season Saturday, Coutinho admitted to ESPN Brazil that the final month of the transfer window was frustrating after an intriguing opportunity to leave Anfield was presented. He insists, however, that he remains committed to the cause at Liverpool.
"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 said, as translated by Andy Hunter of the Guardian.
"As I have always said, it is a great offer to receive an offer from such a great club like that. 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."
Despite his apparent unrest, the Liverpool faithful gave Coutinho a warm reception ahead of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Burnley.
Coutinho declined the notion that his situation is similar to Luis Suarez's when the former Liverpool star was denied a move in 2013 before the Reds accepted Barcelona's £75-million bid a year later.
"I am in a place that I have always been given respect by everyone and I too respect everyone," he said. "I have conquered my space in four, five years and never had any problems with anyone - the fans, the board, my teammates, 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."