Philippe Coutinho Joins Al Duhail, Leaves Aston Villa for Qatar
Philippe Coutinho has officially joined Al Duhail, bidding farewell to his time at Aston Villa.
The Brazilian footballer, who had a promising start at Villa Park, is now starting a new journey in Qatari football on a loan basis, as Aston Villa confirmed in an official statement.
He has already been announced as part of his new team.
Coutinho’s early performances at Villa Park filled fans with hope, but he couldn’t quite match the level that prompted Barcelona to spend 135 million euros to sign him.
He initially arrived at Aston Villa on loan and was later acquired permanently for 20 million euros in the summer of 2022.
While under the management of Steven Gerrard, Coutinho played a crucial role at Aston Villa, but things changed after Unai Emery took over.
The Basque coach appeared to lack confidence in the Brazilian, leading to a decrease in his involvement.
Aston Villa seemed ready to sell him this summer, but a muscle injury during the second match disrupted their plans.
Despite the setback, Coutinho had several potential suitors, including Real Betis. However, it’s Al Duhail in Qatar that has secured his services.
This move marks the conclusion of Coutinho’s European football journey, during which he represented clubs like Inter, Espanyol, Liverpool, and Barcelona, among others.
