Aston Villa sign Barcelona midfielder on loan until the end of the season

Coutinho was keen to leave Barcelona and return to the Premier League in quest of regular playing; the Brazilian played with current Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard at Liverpool.
Coutinho will go to Birmingham in the next 48 hours after passing a physical and securing a work visa, according to the agreement, which also includes an option to buy.

News reported that Villa is paying less than half of Coutinho’s weekly wage, plus bonuses, and that he even consented to a pay drop, despite other teams offering him offers that would have paid him 100% of his Barcelona salary.

Why Philippe Coutinho Opted for Aston Villa

Coutinho wanted to come to England and play regular games again, and he sees Villa as a forward-thinking team with big plans for the future.

After spending two and a half years with Liverpool manager Steven Gerrard, the Brazil midfielder is thought to already know a lot about Villa and their squad.

Coutinho is available for £33 million in the summer transfer window.

There was also a possibility that Coutinho could have returned to Liverpool this month, according to sources, and that he would have been receptive to the move.

During the January transfer window, though, it is understood that Liverpool did not pursue a deal for the 29-year-old.

Coutinho joined Barcelona from Liverpool in January 2018 for a club-record £146 million fee, but he has struggled to establish himself in the first squad at the Nou Camp, spending the 2019/20 season on loan at Bayern Munich.

Steven Gerrard Sees a Future With Coutinho

Manager Steven Gerrard remarked on Thursday, ahead of the acquisition of Coutinho:

“I can understand why he’s linked to a lot of football clubs,” Gerrard said. “Sixty-three caps for Brazil, a serial winner, was amazing for Liverpool.”

“I see why so many of his followers around the country are talking about him. I don’t believe you acquire the term “magician” unless you’re an exceptional footballer, thus he’s someone I hold in high regard.

“However, I don’t want to add to the conjecture because he is a Barcelona player.”

Coutinho may step in to fill Grealish’s Vacuum

Philippe Coutinho was reportedly mentioned by Jack Grealish as one of his favorite players to watch on YouTube. “He constantly does the one where he goes left and dips like a little shimmy, which is something I enjoy doing.” The journey has now completed a full circle.

While Grealish honed his craft enough to secure a £100 million transfer to Manchester City, Coutinho is set to replace him at Aston Villa. If the Brazilian can maintain his form that saw him move from Liverpool to Barcelona, he will be a fantastic addition.