It is simple to overlook now, however it began fairly nicely for Philippe Coutinho at Barcelona.
After arriving in a shocking £146m transfer from Liverpool in January 2018, Coutinho scored his first aim minutes after coming off the bench within the second leg of Barcelona's Copa del Rey semi-final towards Valencia.
Barca held a 1-0 first-leg lead but it surely was 0-0 when Coutinho entered the fray at half-time, with Valencia the higher facet. 5 minutes later, the Brazilian transformed from shut vary after intelligent work by previous Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez. Barca went on to to win the match and Coutinho bought his first piece of silverware in Spain.
Few might have predicted the trajectory of Coutinho's path in the summertime of 2018 however the indicators that this would not be straightforward had been there. Barcelona signed him as an eventual alternative for Andres Iniesta, but Coutinho had all the time described himself as a No 10.
At Liverpool, Klopp had used him both as an attacker within the entrance three or essentially the most superior of his three midfielders however hardly ever, if ever, within the Iniesta function Barcelona had earmarked him for.
He struggled to settle and 18 months later, joined Bayern Munich on mortgage for a season. There, Coutinho confronted the weird scenario of enjoying towards his guardian membership within the Champions League closing and rubbing salt of their wounds by scoring two late objectives to assist Bayern thrash the Catalans 8-2.
Bayern and Coutinho went on to win the Champions League however handed on the choice of signing Brazilian. In reality, it was the suitable name - he seemed a shell of the participant who set Anfield alight. He returned to Spain and Barcelona used him fleetingly, cautious that sure add-ons within the deal to purchase him from Liverpool could be activated by how a lot sport time he bought.
When the pandemic hit, Barcelona's funds nosedived and with money owed of over £1billion, they've been working on a shoestring finances. President Joan Laporta insisted issues have modified with the £50m January signing of Ferran Torres, however Coutinho's departure to Aston Villa makes house for Torres to be registered formally as a Barcelona participant.
So what kind of participant is arriving at Villa Park? To a sure extent, the Brazilian will return to the Premier League along with his tail between his legs - no one would have predicted Aston Villa could be the following staff he performed for in England when he put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half yr cope with Barcelona in 2018.
Villa are thirteenth within the Premier League desk, regardless of making a promising begin to life below Steven Gerrard since he took over as supervisor in November. They're solely three factors off the highest 10 and a top-half end will likely be Gerrard's goal this yr.
It can, one would think about, be an underconfident Coutinho who arrives as nicely. He has performed 16 occasions for Barcelona this season, scoring twice, but it surely has been a tough yr on the Nou Camp as they alter to life with out Lionel Messi.
It's right here the place Gerrard's man-management expertise will likely be wanted. Coutinho may also want time to readjust to the Premier League's tempo and physicality however is aware of he arrives with an enormous sense of expectation on his shoulders.
Gerrard has been instrumental in getting Coutinho to decide on Villa as his subsequent vacation spot and heaped reward on him because the deal was introduced on Friday.
'Sixty-three caps for Brazil, a serial winner, performed for Barcelona, was unbelievable at Liverpool - so I can perceive why he is linked to a number of soccer golf equipment,' Gerrard stated.
'I can perceive why a number of supporters up and down the nation are talking about him. I do not assume you get a nickname as a Magician for those who're not a particular footballer.
'He is somebody I've bought an unbelievable quantity of respect for.'
The completion of Coutinho's deal is topic to a medical and work allow being accomplished, each of which must be formalities. Villa even have an choice to purchase Coutinho for £33m, whereas they're paying £125,000 per week as a reduce of his wages in Spain.
Barcelona would have hoped to recoup extra for the Brazilian however Coutinho is 29 and the worth seems acceptable for a participant approaching his 30s and who's struggling to recapture his most interesting kind.
For now although, it is a signing that Villa followers will rally round and it is an enormous assertion of ambition from the Midlands facet.
If all goes nicely, it might be the right alternative for Jack Grealish. Emi Buendia, the £40m summer time signing from Norwich, has struggled to impose himself at Villa. If not, Coutinho's transfer might be banded in the identical bracket as James Rodriguez to Everton.
His first look for Villa might nicely be towards Manchester United within the Premier League on January 15 - Gerrard's facet host United at Villa Park within the late sport that Saturday.
Villa Park will likely be bouncing. And that quick shot within the arm on the membership isn't any dangerous factor, no matter occurs over the following few months with Coutinho.
