Philippe Coutinho 'Didn't Think Twice' About Signing New Contract With LFC

Philippe Coutinho and Liverpool want the good thing they currently enjoy to get even better in the months and years to come.

Coutinho signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool on Tuesday, strengthening the existing bond between player and club. Coutinho’s new contract runs until 2020 and includes a significant raise. After penning the deal, Coutinho told LiverpoolFC.com that his decision to sign the new contract was an easy one to make.

“This club is great, and the fans have always supported me, so I’ve been eager to sign this new deal since conversations on my future here started,” Coutinho said. “Today is a very happy day.”

Coutinho has impressed since joining Liverpool in January 2013 in a £8.5 million ($12.9 million) transfer from Italian club Inter Milan. The attacking midfielder has established himself as one of Liverpool’s primary creators and also has scored 10 goals in 81 games in all competitions.

Coutinho only was 20 years old when he moved from Milan to Anfield. He appreciates the faith Brendan Rodgers has shown in him and credits the Liverpool manager for improving his all-around game.

“This club has given me the opportunity to play and believed in me, even though I hadn’t been playing regularly at my previous club,” Coutinho said.

“Brendan has always been very helpful — he trusted me and gave me the opportunity to play. I didn’t think twice when a new deal was proposed.”

Rodgers was equally delighted on Coutinho’s big day. He hailed Coutinho’s attitude and predicts that there is a lot more to come from the 22-year-old Brazilian.

“He is clearly going to be a big part of our story in the years to come,” Rodgers told the club website. “The most exciting thing isn’t just how good he is now, it’s the further improvement he can make in his game.

“He deserves all the credit in the world for the attitude he has shown since coming to Liverpool. He arrived as a young man, in a country he’d never lived in before and joined a club where expectations are high. He has shown a willingness to listen, learn and improve.

“It is my hope now that he continues with his improvement and development and becomes a figurehead for this exciting, vibrant, youthful squad of players, as we look to grow as a group and achieve success together.”