Philippe Coutinho still wears a bracelet given to him by Lionel Messi three years ago… Now the new Aston Villa signing will be hoping the lucky charm will help him prove himself a Premier League hit again for his new club.
- Philippe Coutinho and Lionel Messi were friends when the pair were in Barcelona
- Messi gave Coutinho a bracelet in the form of a lucky charm when the midfielder struggled
- Messi was given a talisman by a reporter after he missed a World Cup penalty
- New Aston Villa signing Coutinho wore it to announce Premier League return
New Aston Villa to sign Philippe CoutinhoHis bid to return to his sensational best in the Premier League will be boosted by a distinctive red band that was given to him by Lionel Messi in 2019.
Ballon d’Or winner Messi and former Liverpool player Coutinho of the season were friends during their time together Barcelona, and the Paris Saint-Germain magician gave Brazil The Playmaker bracelet when the Premier League’s most expensive esports ever in 2019 was struggling for form.
Messi was gifted by journalist Rama Pantarotto after the deadly striker suffered an involuntary penalty lapse in the 2018 World Cup group stage game against Iceland.
Philippe Coutinho wore a distinctive red bracelet on his left hand as he signed for Aston Villa
The midfielder was gifted by Lionel Messi during his time as a teammate at Barcelona
Barcelona’s all-time top scorer later left the journalist in tears after saying in an interview that he was wearing the ribbon, which was sent by the reporter’s mother, into one of his shoes for a crucial encounter with Nigeria.
The current had the desired effect as Messi scored a brilliant opening goal en route to a 2-1 victory, sending Argentina into the knockout stage.
The generous Messi gesture came back to haunt him when he later gave Coutinho the bracelet a year after his new teammate’s £142million move from Anfield.
Coutinho duly enjoyed one of the most memorable campaigns of his career, although he did so at the expense of Barca.
Coutinho scored against Barcelona and won the Champions League with Bayern
Indebted to Bayern Munich, he scored twice as they beat his parent club 8-2 in the 2020 Champions League and lifted the trophy.
Villa fans and new boss Steven Gerrard will now be hoping the band will have a similar effect after the club staged a coup by holding Coutinho from Liga giants for the rest of the 2021–22 season.
Gerard was one of Coutinho’s teammates when he hit the best form of his career to date, starring for Liverpool between 2013 and 2018, before Barcelona swooped in to set a Premier League transfer record that still stands today. Has sustained.
Coutinho could debut for Villa when they host Manchester United in the Premier League at Villa Park on Saturday.
Villain is looking for revenge with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford after United crashed out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Monday, which many felt lucky.
Frustrated Gerard saw his side hit the crossbar before the break and refused to score two goals during an impressive performance against Ralph Rangnick’s hardworking side.
,