Neymar's WhatsApp messages to Philippe Coutinho that he wishes he never ignored

09 December 2023 , 08:15

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Neymar tried to tempt Philippe Coutinho to move to PSG (Image: Getty Images)

Philippe Coutinho 's career has gone down a very different path than most people expected since leaving Liverpool back in 2018.

The Brazilian magician's stock was at an all-time high when Europe's elite came calling at the time; he had established himself as one of the Premier League's finest imports under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp and had become the Reds' talisman.

He was unable to resist the lure of Barcelona, though, who shelled out an astronomical sum of £142million to prise him away from Liverpool. Coutinho himself admitted that the move to the Nou Camp was a "dream" one. But Barcelona were far from the only club courting Coutinho at the time.

Paris Saint-Germain were one of those suitors. One year on from signing the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, the French giants were doing all they could to assemble a super team. Unsurprisingly, they set their sights on snaring Coutinho.

Reports in Spain at the time of Coutinho's move claimed that Neymar even stepped in to try and convince his compatriot to snub Barcelona - his former club - and instead join him in Paris. But Neymar's WhatsApp messages failed to hit the mark and Coutinho completed the formalities of his blockbuster switch to the Nou Camp.

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Unfortunately for him, the move never really worked out. He made a promising enough start after signing in the January transfer window, plundering 10 goals in 22 games. But after netting just 11 times across 54 matches the following season, the writing was on the wall.

From then on, Coutinho had a bit-part role at the Nou Camp and was even farmed out on loan to Bayern Munich for the 2019/20 campaign. He enjoyed a productive season but was left back at square one when the German giants failed to take up their option to sign him permanently.

Join the debate! How good was Coutinho at Liverpool? Let us know here.

Coutinho's decision to swap Liverpool for Barcelona in 2018 backfired

Ironically, it was a return to the Premier League which reignited Coutinho's career. A reunion with Anfield legend Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa led to a productive six-month loan stint which, in turn, developed into a permanent deal.

But not long after escaping his Camp Nou hell, Coutinho slipped back into obscurity. He failed to emulate the dazzling form he'd shown on loan during his first full season at Villa Park and headed into the 2023/24 campaign on the fringes of Unai Emery's plans.

With little to no interest in his services, Coutinho ended up joining the exodus of stars who headed to the Middle East late in the transfer window. However, instead of ending up in the Saudi Pro League, Coutinho headed to the Qatar Stars League with Al Duhail.

Now aged 31 and in his prime, Coutinho's talents should be gracing a far grander stage. But his decisions over recent years mean it's now unlikely that will happen anytime soon.

Dan Marsh