Philippe Coutinho swaps squad number after first season at Barcelona

Barcelona have confirmed Philippe Coutinho has been given a new squad number after his first six months at the club.

Upon signing from Liverpool in January for a £146m, the Brazilian was handed the number 14 jersey en route to winning the Copa del Rey and La Liga double.

But now, Coutinho has been given a new number in the no.7 shirt ahead of the upcoming season as he is about to become an even more important player at the club.

In an announcement on Barcelona’s official website, the club said: “Philippe Coutinho arrived last January to bring even more quality to FC Barcelona. After half a season wearing the No.14 shirt, the Brazilian has been handed the coveted No.7.

2️⃣9️⃣ ➡️ 7️⃣
1️⃣4️⃣ ➡️ 7️⃣

Philippe Coutinho and Kylian Mbappé were thinking the same thing this summer. pic.twitter.com/K35Q8J48o1

— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) August 9, 2018

“Throughout Barça’s history, this number has been synonymous with great players and now it’s his turn.

“In general, the profile of the players that have worn it are attackers, and brilliant players of great quality such as Coutinho.

“The Brazilian now has the opportunity to continue the legend that accompanies this number, and make the No.7 shine again.”

Coutinho played 22 games in total for Barcelona in the second half of last season, scoring 10 goals and recording six assists.

The Brazilian will be hoping to add a third honour to his short spell with Barcelona so far, as the Blaugrana take on Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday.

The history of the Barca no.7

In taking his new number this season, Coutinho joins a list of some of Barcelona’s best attacking players in wearing the no.7.

When shirt numbers were first fixed at Barcelona in in the 1995/96 season, Luis Figo donned the number 7 for five seasons up until his sale to Real Madrid.

Alfonso Perez and Javier Saviola followed Figo before Henrik Larsson took the number for two seasons between 2004 and 2006.

Eidur Gudjohnsen then spent four seasons as number 7 before being replaced by David Villa in 2010, with the Spaniard joining from Valencia.

Villa was replaced by Pedro before Arda Turan became the latest player to wear the number 7, giving it up in January of this year upon his loan move to Basaksehir.

The post Philippe Coutinho swaps squad number after first season at Barcelona appeared first on Squawka News.

From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2vQFYxT