Philippe Coutinho messages from Liverpool icons including Firmino and Suarez speak volumes

Liverpool stars past and present have come together to send video messages to Philippe Coutinho . The former Anfield star has completed a transfer to his old club Vasco da Gama.

Coutinho rejoins on an initial season-long loan from Aston Villa, but Aston Villa News suggests some kind of release fee could be agreed for next summer. It draws a line under a testing few years for the Brazilian playmaker.

Having been warned by Jurgen Klopp that he would become just another player elsewhere, Coutinho forced through a move to Barcelona regardless, and has never really been the same. There have been stints at Bayern Munich, Villa and latterly in the Qatari Stars League, but the ace who lit up the Premier League has only been visible in glimpses now for a number of years.

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Perhaps that's why it has become easier, with time, to forgive him for the manner of his Anfield exit, instead remembering all of the good times at Liverpool. There were certainly plenty of those, and tributes have come in from former teammates including Roberto Firmino , Luis Suarez , Lucas Leiva, Martin Skrtel and Trent Alexander-Arnold .

There was also a message from Thiago Alcantara, who left Anfield this summer. In a series of videos gathered by Vasco, greats of the game including Falcao and Sergio Busquets also wished Coutinho well.

The club posted a heartwarming video of his reaction to the messages. And we've collected some of the ones with a Liverpool connection here.

Lucas gushed over his former teammate: "Hey brother. What a moment, huh? I must imagine you must be feeling a great sense of affection and joy for being back at your home, at your beloved club where you have so many cherished memories.

"I have known you for a long time now, more than 20 years if I'm not mistaken. And I've closely followed your journey since your arrival at Liverpool.

"Obviously we shared numerous unforgettable moments on the national team, but even more intensely at Liverpool, when you initially became like a son to me, then my brother, and now my very close friend."

Alexander-Arnold also wished Coutinho all the best. He predicted good things for his former colleague:

"Hi Phil, it's Trent here," he said. "I just wanted to say all the best and good luck for your new journey and challenge. I know you'll smash it, all the best my friend."

Skrtel weighed in: "Hello, and also hello to all the Vasco da Gama fans at the stadium. Today's your big day because your hero, Philippe Coutinho, is coming back to your club.

"So, amigo, I would like to wish you all the very best success. This is a new chapter in your football career, you are coming back to your boyhood club."

Firmino wished his former teammate a "year of victories". He too expressed excitement about the prospect of Coutinho's return to the club where he first emerged:

"What's up, Firmino passes by to congratulate you on this new cycle and this beautiful story that will continue to be written in this great club that is Vasco da Gama," he said. "The club that revealed you and helped you become the great player you are today."

You can see all of the video messages, including those from Suarez and Thiago, on the Vasco X account .

Liverpool.com says: This is nice to see. It's an eclectic mix of Liverpool past and present, and the fact that Coutinho played with both Skrtel and Alexander-Arnold shows that he was actually quite long-serving - when he left, only a couple of players were more senior.

Hopefully this is the move where Coutinho finally rediscovers his best form. At his best, he is an absolute joy to watch.