'It is all cool,' insists Coutinho
Barcelona’s attempts to sign Coutinho were thwarted, but the flirtation between the player and the Nou Camp is evidently not over. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho has broken his silence on his failed move to Barcelona, saying he was "honoured" to be targeted by the La Liga side.
Barcelona's attempts to sign Coutinho were thwarted, but the flirtation between the player and the Nou Camp is evidently not over.
The midfielder made his first start of the season in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Burnley, and in an interview with ESPN Brasil, he spoke diplomatically about his 'complicated' summer.
"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.
"It is a great honour to receive an offer from such a great club like that. But it is also a great honour being here.
"It was a complicated month for me, 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. My thoughts are on the team's goals, making a good season, with the national team, too, doing my best to get there."
The suspicion lingers Barcelona will return next summer, although Coutinho says he has been given no promises Liverpool will be more receptive to bids at the end of this season.
"Not that I know of," he said. "I am in a place that I have always been - given respect by everyone and (I), too, respect everyone. It is all in the past." (© Daily Telegraph, London)
