Philippe Coutinho has left Aston Villa on loan to join boyhood club Vasco de Gama and he sounds absolutely delighted about it.

The former Liverpool star joined Villa on loan from Barcelona in 2022 when Steven Gerrard was in charge of the club, but things have not worked out for him under current boss Unai Emery.

The Brazil international spent last season on loan at Qatari side Al-Duhail, where he managed just three league goals in 16 appearances.

The 32-year-old is still under contract with Aston Villa until 2026 and has had requests to cancel that contract turned down by the club.

However, he clearly has no future at Villa Park as he has moved away on his second season-long loan, this time to the Brazilian club at which he started his career.

Coutinho shone so brightly in the youth system at Vasco de Gama that he was snapped up by Inter Milan at just 16 years old and it will be an emotional return to his homeland for him.

‘It is a feeling of great happiness, joy and anxiety,’ Coutinho said. ‘I lived abroad for a long time, so it really is a feeling of coming home, to the place where I was raised, to the place I love, the club I love.

‘Everyone knows how happy my family and I are to be back.’

In a brief statement, Aston Villa said of Coutinho: ‘Aston Villa can confirm that Philippe Coutinho has joined Vasco da Gama on a season-long loan.

‘The Brazilian returns to his homeland having spent last term with Al Duhail.

‘After signing for Villa initially on loan in January 2022, he went on to pen a permanent deal at Villa Park and has made 43 appearances for the club, scoring six goals.’

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