Former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho has dismissed claims that he lacks professionalism and that he refused to come on as a substitute in Barcelona’s draw with Celta Vigo at the weekend.
The Brazilian departed Anfield in 2018 amidst a saga that saw him submit a transfer request via email on the eve of a new Premier League season and allegations suggesting that the back injury preventing him from featuring for the club were being exaggerated.
The 29-year-old, who is currently on international duty, has defended his professionalism telling the press (via Liverpool Echo): “Since I returned, I did not have a sequence of four or five games from the beginning to be able to reach my best level, get match fit.
“I was a little bit surprised when I arrived home and saw this, that I am being called a lazy player in the media. I have always been a professional in my entire career.
“I have never had any lack of professionalism – you can check at all clubs that I have ever played – I have always respected everybody, my team-mates, staff, all the people that I have worked with.
“I confess I was a little bit surprised when I saw that. But that’s fine, I respect the opinion of all you journalists.”
Reds’ fans will all have their own opinion but a trend seems to be appearing that our former No.10 can’t stay settled at a club.
According to talkSPORT, Jurgen Klopp did tell Coutinho back in 2017 that if he was to remain on Merseyside then a statue in his honour would be built but the former Inter Milan man was adamant that a switch to Barcelona was what he wanted.
He’s done very little since he left us and it’s a shame to see because he was unplayable at times.
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, though, and he certainly would’ve became a legend like many of the current Liverpool squad had he took Jurgen’s advice instead of forcing a move out of the club.