Philippe Coutinho dismisses reports saying he has asked to leave Aston Villa to return to Brazil as 'lies'
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Published 29/12/2022 at 15:46 GMT
The January transfer window is looming into focus, and clubs will be working hard on players they want to buy and sell. Aston Villa are likely to be active players in what is the first window under the stewardship, and Brazil international Philippe Coutinho seems set to be in the headlines. He has taken to social medial to deny claims that he has asked to move on.
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Philippe Coutinho has said it is ‘lies’ that he has asked to leave Aston Villa.
Coutinho joined Villa on loan in January last year to reunite with former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard who was the manager at Villa Park.
The Brazilian made a bright start to life in the Midlands, and Villa confirmed at the end of last season that the club had turned his loan move from Barcelona into a permanent arrangement for a fee in the region of £17 million.
It has all changed at Villa since May, with Gerrard sacked following a disappointing start to the season and Coutinho struggling with injury.
Gerrard was axed on October 20, being replaced by Unai Emery four days later.
Coutinho made only one appearance under Emery - a substitute run out from the bench in the 4-0 loss to Newcastle - before succumbing to injury at the end of October.
The 30-year-old returned to action with a four-minute cameo from the bench against former club Liverpool on Boxing Day, after which reports in his native Brazil suggested Coutinho had asked the club to let him depart.
It was reported that Coutinho’s agent Kia Joorabchian had held talks with Corinthians, but the player took to social media to say he had not asked to leave and was focused on achieving his goals with Villa.
Writing on Instagram, Coutinho said: “In the last few days I've seen a lot of news with my name but so far, okay, the problem is now that some lies have started and I'm here to clarify.
“NEVER and at any moment had any kind of conversation of mine asking to leave the club, because I'm happy here and my family too.
“My only focus now that I'm recovered from the injury is to work at the maximum every day, to play in a high level and help the club and my team-mates to achieve our goals.”
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Philippe Coutinho of Aston Villa runs with the ball whilst under pressure from James Ward-Prowse of Southampton during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Southampton FC at Villa Park on September 16, 2022 in Birmingham, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
The winter transfer window opens on Sunday, the day Villa take on Tottenham in North London.
Going into the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa occupy 12th place in the Premier League.
The Villans are seemingly well placed in mid-table in the Premier League, but it is extremely condensed as they sit five points above the relegation places after 16 games of the season.
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