Former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho was interrupted by gunshots during an interview on Wednesday. The scary scenes unfolded during a media day at Vasco da Gama's Moacyr Barbosa Training Centre, with two other interviews halted due to the sounds of gunfire.

Vasco midfielder Nuno Moreira and goalkeeper Leo Jardim were also fulfilling media duties when the shootouts took place. The Moacyr Barbosa Training Centre is located in the Cidade de Deus region of Rio de Janeiro, and the gunshots sparked fear of potential conflict.

Club employees have reported that the sound of gunfire in the area is normal due to routine police operations.

That could explain why Coutinho appears so relaxed about the situation, laughing off the noises before continuing the interview.

Coutinho is currently under contract at Aston Villa, having signed permanently from Barcelona in 2022 following a six-month loan spell.

The 32-year-old flopped after his £17million switch, though, making just two substitute appearances in the first half of last season.

He spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Al-Duhail in Qatar, registering eight goals and four assists in 23 games.

Coutinho is unlikely to play for Villa again, having notched just six goals and three assists in 43 appearances for the Midlands club.

The Brazilian is most remembered for his time at Liverpool, where he scored 54 goals and provided 44 assists in 201 games.

Barcelona signed him for a club-record £142m in 2018, but he failed to live up to expectations during an injury-hit four years at the Nou Camp.

Coutinho is enjoying life back at Vasco, where he spent the first two years of his senior career on loan after leaving the club's academy for Inter Milan in 2008.

Vasco manager Fabio Carille has remained coy on whether the club will look to keep Coutinho and fellow ex-Premier League midfielder Dimitri Payet beyond the summer.

"We'll wait. On the technical side, yes, but we have to look at the financial side and other things about the club," Carille explained in March.

"We still have a few months. This hasn't been discussed, but it's better to wait and understand everything to do what's best for everyone."

Coutinho isn't expected to feature in Unai Emery's plans, especially if Villa qualify for a second successive Champions League campaign this weekend.

A permanent departure, removing Coutinho from the wage bill, could boost the Villans' summer transfer budget.