Former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho's career has taken another turn in the wrong direction
Philippe Coutinho of Vasco da Gama
Philippe Coutinho is on his way out of another club(Image: Wagner Meier, Getty Images)
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Philippe Coutinho looks poised to leave another club, as Jurgen Klopp's stark warning continues to ring true. The Brazilian, who was famously told he would rue his departure from Liverpool by Klopp as he chased a move to Barcelona during the 2017/18 season, has taken his current club Vasco da Gama aback by declaring his intention to terminate his contract.
Reports from Brazil suggest the request blindsided Vasco, who had actually held discussions with the 33-year-old about a new contract. Coutinho's existing deal was set to run out in June.
Despite attempts to persuade him otherwise, Globo has reported the decision is "irreversible." It's said to be because of criticism he has faced from fans after being booed at a recent home game.
It marks yet another turbulent episode in a career that has gone in reverse since Klopp advised him in 2018: "Stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honour.
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"Go somewhere else, to Barcelona, to Bayern Munich, to Real Madrid, and you will be just another player. Here you can be something more."
Coutinho disregarded that by departing in a club-record £142million transfer. However, rather than reaching new heights alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the Brazilian playmaker's career entered a downward trajectory, which has seen him become a journeyman.
Jurgen Klopp speaks to Philippe Coutinho
Coutinho's career went downhill after he ignore Jurgen Klopp's advice(Image: Getty Images)
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His Nou Camp ordeal, which featured a loan stint at Bayern Munich, concluded in 2022. An effort to revive his career at Aston Villa under Steven Gerrard began promisingly but ended poorly following his former Liverpool colleague's dismissal.
While Unai Emery sparked a remarkable turnaround at Villa Park, he was unable to extract the best from Coutinho, who was promptly sent out on loan.
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Philippe Coutinho of Vasco da Gama
Coutinho has become a journeyman in recent years(Image: Getty Images)
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There were spells at Al-Duhail in Qatar and Vasco before he completed a permanent move to the latter from Villa, who were desperate to get him off the wage bill, last year. However, what should to have been a sentimental return to his boyhood club has seemingly turned sour.
Approaching 34 in the summer and having not represented Brazil since 2022, Coutinho may be questioning whether he should have heeded Klopp's words after all.