Philippe Coutinho signs new Liverpool deal to become highest-paid Reds player on £200,000 a week as he snubs Barcelona interest
The Brazilian is delighted to be staying at Anfield:'I am very thankful to this football club for everything'
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LIVERPOOL playmaker Philippe Coutinho has signed a new five-year deal.
The Brazilian has penned a new deal worth £200,000 per week making him the highest paid player in the club's history.
The 24-year-old who joined Liverpool four years ago under former boss Brendan Rodgers from Inter Milan has scored 34 goals in 163 appearances Liverpool.
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Coutinho has been linked with a big money move to Barcelona, but committing his long term future to Liverpool will be a huge boost for boss Jurgen Klopp.
Coutinho said: “I am very happy to sign a new contract here. It is a club that I am very grateful to and this shows my happiness here. I will work much harder to repay the belief shown in me.
“I signed this new contract to stay here for a few more years because it’s a great honour for me. It gives me great happiness because I was welcomed here with open arms by everyone at the club and the supporters right from my first day. I am very thankful to this football club for everything.”
He added: “I am the kind of person that works very hard in trying to get better every day. I am always trying to learn, so this will be no different from what it was before my injury.
“Of course, with my injury things got a bit more difficult and I wasn’t playing for quite a while.
“When you come back, of course it is too difficult to be at the same level, but I have been working very hard each day in order to carry on producing good performances on the pitch to help the team achieve victories.
“The last few games were not so good but we are ready to stand up again and carry on fighting.”
The Liverpool boss told Liverpoolfc.com: “This is wonderful news and I know everyone associated with LFC will be delighted when hearing this today.
“I think everyone knows what a great footballer Phil is, that is not in question - but not everyone sees what an incredibly positive character he is and what a big influence he is on the dressing room.
“I knew of Phil before I came to Liverpool and I was well aware of what a talent he was, but since arriving here I have not only witnessed his ability up close, but also his ever-continuing development. He is truly world-class - in that very top bracket.
“The fact he wants to stay here and be part of what we are looking to build and develop shows his personal commitment is to make himself better and be an integral part of something that is very special.
“We have total belief in our project, but when a player of Phil’s calibre and status commits for this length of time it shows that our faith is shared throughout the game. He knows he can fulfil his dreams and ambitions here at Liverpool. This is a big statement.
“I look forward to seeing Phil create many more great memories and moments for this club.”