Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio has admitted that the club showed a lack of patience while dealing with Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers pulled off a coup when he signed the highly-rated Brazilian midfielder from Inter in January 2013 for a transfer fee of £8m.
Coutinho has flourished at Liverpool and has been one of their key performers over the last couple of seasons.
Rodgers said a few days ago that he was able to sign Coutinho for a low transfer fee because Inter were in desperate need of some cash, which facilitated the move.
However, the Inter sporting director claimed that the story around Coutinho leaving the club is different.
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Ausilio explained that during Rafael Benitez’s reign at the San Siro, the youngster was used on the flanks, not his natural position and he was also not playing regularly.
He believes Inter lacked patience when choosing to sell Coutinho to Liverpool and admits that there is a tinge of regret in seeing the Brazilian flourish in England.
“He was just 18 when he arrived at the club from Vasco”, Ausilio told Sky Italia.
“Then came Benitez and the expectations were very high. Rafa used him on the flanks in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
“He was not playing much and we lacked patience so we decided to sell him”, admitted Ausilio.
“I would like young players to grow and succeed here; when I seen them play for other clubs, it makes me sad.”
Coutinho made 47 appearances for Inter and also spent time on loan at Spanish outfit Espanyol.
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