Coutinho reveals his delight at signing for Villa

Philippe Coutinho has expressed his delight at signing for Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season.

The Brazilian, whose agreement at Villa Park includes an option to buy, has a glittering CV following spells with Inter Milan, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and parent club Barcelona.

And the 29-year-old is keen to get started and enjoy his football after reuniting with Villa head coach Steven Gerrard, whom he played alongside in his previous stint in the Premier League.

He said: “It’s a pleasure to be here; it’s a great club.

“I spoke a lot with the manager, with Stevie, and he told me about the club and his ambitions. I’m very happy to be here and I'm looking to enjoy my football.”

He added: “I’ve known Stevie for a long time. I played with him and I learned a lot from him.

“He’s someone who I have big admiration for. I hope to do my best here. For sure, I will work hard, and I hope together we can do good work.”

Villa fans have been eagerly anticipating the sight of Coutinho in claret and blue since the club announced a deal for him last week.

And the Rio de Janeiro native, who has over 60 caps for his country and won the Copa América in 2019, is hoping to reward supporters with strong performances during the remainder of the season.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the fans, to being on the pitch. I know and I feel that they’re happy that I’m here,” he said.

“I want to repay that on the pitch and enjoy my football. I’m looking forward to being on the pitch.

“I always want to be at my best, doing my work. That’s what I work hard for every day.

“I hope it will be a great rest of the season here.”

You can watch Coutinho's first interview with VillaTV below...