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Fan Suggests Lucas Leiva Encouraged Coutinho To Leave Liverpool, He Responds

Fan Suggests Lucas Leiva Encouraged Coutinho To Leave Liverpool, He Responds

"I didn't encourage anyone and it is very sad to see comments like yours..."

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Before Philippe Coutinho's medical on Monday afternoon, it emerged that former Liverpool teammate Lucas Leiva spoke to the 25-year-old on FaceTime.

It was revealed that Leiva told the Brazilian playmaker that missing out on Champions League football with Barca would mean that he was fresh for the World Cup later in the year.


"Missing the Champions League means you will be fresh for the World Cup, my friend." Leiva said via The Daily Mail. "It's not ideal, but you have to look at things positively."

Hours after the story emerged, Leiva began to receive a number of messages on Twitter suggesting that he had encouraged his former teammate and friend to join the Catalan giants.

So when one Liverpool fan suggested he had encouraged Coutinho to leave Liverpool, the 30-year-old felt the need to respond:

"Dear Patricia, I didn't encourage anyone and it is very sad to see comments like yours." Leiva said.

The Twitter user responded, saying: "If I misinterpreted the report in the Daily Mail, I am sorry, and I am glad to hear it! I will delete the Tweet. You have been a favorite in our house for many years!"

Leiva then suggested that he didn't make a decision for Coutinho.

It was also reported that fellow Brazilian teammates David Luiz and Willian called to wish him well.

Coutinho admitted in an interview that Barcelona is a 'dream' move, while saying it will be 'incredible' to play alongside Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, among others.

"Hi Barca fans, I am already here, it is a dream come true and I hope to see you tomorrow," he said in a video message via BBC.

"It is incredible to know that I am going to live with idols, players with a lot of history.

"Footballers like Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, [Andres] Iniesta, [Gerard] Pique, [Sergio] Busquets. I am very happy to be able to live together, to be able to learn from them and be able to win together," Coutinho added.

Thoughts on Leiva's comments?

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Topics: Liverpool, Coutinho, Barcelona, Transfers