Coutinho: Of the humility of the favela to the world-wide success

The signing of Philippe Coutinho by the FC Barcelona closed after long months of wait. The Barcelona entity paid 160 million euros to ensure that the Brazilian midfield player would form part of his team. In an interview with the official television of the club, Coutinho desveló his starts in the football. 

"My father always worked a lot so that it did not be us of at all. My mother remained more home taking care of the things. Have two brothers, one that already lived out of house and another that lived with us during long. I began to play to five-a-side football in Basque of Range from the 6 years. It was ours life. My parents lived a lot football. They carried me to all the parties that played. My father always supported me a lot", commented Coutinho.

The Brazilian midfield player initiated in the five-a-side football. "It is a sport that helps a lot because the spaces are short and have to control very well the ball and think faster. Help a lot to the players. It was difficult for me the change to leave the futsal to happen to the field. We trained two or thrice to the week to five-a-side football at night and played the Sundays. Afterwards I grew and I began to combine the two sports, the futsal and the field, in the morning and at night, training and playing. Like this every day because it did not want to leave the futsal, but there was a moment that I had to stop and decide me by the football of field", remembered.

In spite of the big success of his career, his parents did not abandon the favela till lately. "My parents did not want to change of house till lately, had built it with his sacrifice, liked them and did not want to go out. But it was a very dangerous zone and had to change. Still I have friends there and tried to go when I am in Brazil, but little because it is dangerous. The football has given it to me all, have conquered some things thanks to the football. Alive in a safe country by the football. I am in a city grandísima. I can help to my famiia and is very important", said.

His family

Coutinho Recognised that his family is a very important support. "It is very important for me, they are for me the base of everything. My woman and my daughter, that always are with me. And my parents, that always have been to my side. I see very happy to my parents to see me dress this T-shirt of a big club. We are all very happy", signalled.

Also it explained his tattoos. "Have many. The one who more likes me is the one of my daughter. Have the name of my woman and the one of my parents, that went the first that did me. Also this sentence that think that in Spanish is 'Never leave to dream'. Have a lot of that like me. And the one of Minnie, that also carries it my woman because it likes him to our daughter", indicated.