Philippe Coutinho has no regrets about leaving Italian giants Inter for Liverpool at the start of 2013.
The Brazilian youngster moved to Anfield for €10m in January, after two and a half problematic years at San Siro.
Philippe Coutinho has no regrets about leaving Italian giants Inter for Liverpool at the start of 2013.
The Brazilian youngster moved to Anfield for €10m in January, after two and a half problematic years at San Siro.
“Sometimes you can be a good player at a good club and for some reason it just does not work out,” the 21-year-old told the Daily Telegraph.
“There is no explanation for it. Then you move to another club and it fits perfectly straight away and you feel comfortable.
“I had some chances at Inter, but after a few years – certainly by the time Liverpool were interested – I was not getting many chances.
“As a footballer all you ever want is the chance to play, and show people how well you can play. I knew at Liverpool I would get that opportunity so I didn’t think twice.
“You look at a club and you see a top European team, with top players and top ambitions to win every major trophy, even if it will take time. I didn’t even have to think about the decision.”
Coutinho arrived at San Siro as an 18-year-old, but the club were at the start of a new era after completing the treble.
“Jose Mourinho was the manager when I was preparing to join them, but he left before I moved to Italy,” added the Brazilian.
“It was a difficult period, strangely, because they had won the national championship five times and just won the Champions League but the club was preparing for change.
“Rafa Benítez had just become the manager and he was prepared to give me opportunities straight away as a younger player, but there were good players there who won a lot at the club – really good players – and things were not settled and it turned out not so good.
“I had a good relationship with Rafa, he was always very considerate towards me and gave me a lot of confidence. He cared a lot about all the younger players at Inter.”
Coutinho scored five goals in 47 games for the Beneamata.