It was rumoured for a while but it's been officially confirmed that Philippe Coutinho will receive a Champions League winners' medal if Liverpool overcome Real Madrid in Kiev to win their sixth European Cup on Saturday.
The Brazilian left in January in a £142 million mega move to Barcelona, where he has lifted the Copa Del Rey and La Liga in the space of a few months.
With their record signing ineligible, Barca were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter final stage after suffering a second leg collapse against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
Yet courtesy of his contributions in the group stages, Coutinho can still be a Champions League winner if his former team do the business. as per James Pearce from the Liverpool Echo.
He played 347 minutes of European football for Jurgen Klopp's side across five games, scoring five goals and chipping in with two assists.
The former Inter Milan man notched a superb hat-trick in the 7-0 thrashing of Spartak Moscow as he captained the side in his final Champions League appearance for the Reds in December - and the club feel his performances warrant one of the 40 medals Liverpool will be able to dish out if they are celebrating when Saturday's showdown is over and done with.
One of 25 players to have turned out for Liverpool in this season's scintillating Champions League campaign, he will also receive a silver medal should Real Madrid taste Champions League final success for the third consecutive year.
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Naturally, the decision has caused debate aplenty on social media - with mixed opinions:
Is it deserved?
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Sound off in the comments.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Anfield, UEFA Champions League, Football, Philippe Coutinho, Champions League, Liverpool FC
