Liverpool's Brazilian attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho on Sunday admitted he was interested when the offer came from FC Barcelona but added he is also proud to play for his current club and will give his best here. The Merseyside attacker was in low spirits after the Brazilian could not make it to the Catalan's on the deadline day of the transfer market. Liverpool rejected three-bids from Barcelona and had to settle for Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund.
"What happened was a job offer and, in life, sometimes you get interested. Sometimes you don't and, in my case, everyone knows that I got interested, my family too," said Coutinho as media reports suggest .
"But as I have always said, it is a great offer to receive an offer from such a great club like that.
"But it is also a great honour being here. Liverpool is a great club worldwide. I'm here and I will give my best as always. I'm working hard, my thoughts are on the team's goals, making a good season."
There was a lot of speculation surrounding Coutinho as to where he would be playing this season as he missed the start of the season.
"It was a complicated month for me but as I have said, it is an honour to receive that offer but it is also an honour to wear this shirt, so what I can do is work hard and honour that on the field. It is all cool," he added.
Coutinho further said that he has no plans of shifting to any other club at the moment.
"Not that I know of. I am in a place that I have always been given respect by everyone and I too respect everyone," he said.
"I have conquered my space in four, five years and never had any problems with anyone, the fans, the board, my team-mates, the coaching staff. That has not changed. As I have said, in life, in every job you get an offer, interested or not. It is all in the past," he added.
(With IANS Inputs).
