Aston Villa: ‘It’s over’ for Philippe Coutinho at Villa Park despite contract
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Alan Hutton believes “it’s over” for Philippe Coutinho at Aston Villa despite the Brazilian impressing while on loan at Al-Duhail in Qatar.
Coutinho, 31, joined the Qatari Stars League side on a season-long loan in September, meaning that deal will expire when he still has two years left to run on his contract at Villa Park.
With Al-Duhail, Coutinho has so far scored three goals and supplied one assist in six appearances, with two of those goals coming against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the AFC Champions League on 7 November.
Even though the former Barcelona and Liverpool playmaker is performing well in the Middle East, Hutton is in the complete belief that he’s finished as an Aston Villa player despite how long he has left on his contract in the West Midlands.
“I can’t see [him returning], to be quite honest,” Hutton told Villa News.
“I do think it’s over for him.
“Steven Gerrard signed him hoping he can really kick on and was probably on a huge contract as well.
“He’s gone over there and it’s no disrespect to them but the standard in Qatar isn’t the same as the Premier League. You would expect somebody of his ability to go over there and shine and that’s obviously what he’s doing.
“At his age in the Premier League, it’s always going to be difficult.”
Coutinho played twice for Villa at the start of the Premier League season before he was sent out on loan.
He’s always struggled for game time under Unai Emery with injuries blighting his time with the Spaniard in charge at the club.
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