Philippe Coutinho to wear number 14 shirt at Barcelona - previously worn by Johan Cruyff
It is the shirt number vacated by another former Liverpool star, Javier Mascherano
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Your support makes all the difference.Philippe Coutinho’s Barcelona shirt number has been revealed – and it’s one that carries a lot of significance at the Nou Camp.
The Brazilian has been handed the No 14 shirt following the confirmation of his move from Liverpool for £142m, which has been vacated by another former Red, Javier Mascherano, who will complete a move to China imminently.
But it is not Mascherano who has made that shirt famous, it is the late Johan Cruyff, who made it his trademark throughout his career and played for Barcelona between 1973 and 1978, switching between No 14 and No 9, scoring 48 goals in 143 games and winning both La Liga and the Copa del Rey in the process.
He also returned to manager the Catalan giants for a further eight years (1988-1996), winning four La Ligas, as well as the European Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup and the Copa del Rey.
On his unveiling as a Barcelona player, Coutinho said: “I’m very content. Very happy. Like I said before it’s a dream. Thanks to lots of people, firstly God, my parents and my family who are here with me in every moment.
“I’d like to thank the president of FC Barcelona, the directors who had so much patience. I would like to thank Liverpool for the five years I had there and the directors, Mike Gordon who understood what I wanted, my dream, and they tried very hard to convince me to stay. To the fans who shared five years with me, thank you.”
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