Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard tipped Philippe Coutinho to move to Barcelona back in 2015.

The former Reds captain has seemingly been aware that the Brazilian would be on the radar of the La Liga duo for quite some time, with Barca now securing the services of player they tried and failed to sign in the summer for a staggering £142m.

Coutinho played with Gerrard for two-and-a-half years before he left the Reds for LA Galaxy in 2015, and he has clearly always been aware of the quality of a man Liverpool signed for £8.5m in January 2013.

(Image: Action Images)

He has now completed his move to Barca, although a thigh injury will force him to delay his debut for three weeks.

And in Gerrard's 2015 autobiography "My Story", he claimed that Barca has always been a likely destination for the Brazilian.

"He has just signed a new deal and he and his wife - who are a lovely couple - seem settled here," wrote Gerrard, referring to the five-year contract Coutinho signed in February 2015.

(Image: Getty Images Europe) (Image: Liverpool Echo)

"But I also know that the Spanish giants, Barcelona and Real Madrid, will come looking for Philippe in a few more seasons, just like they did with Luis.

"And that's when it will get tricky for Liverpool because the lure to go to one or two of those clubs is so strong for any South American or Spanish player."

And unfortunately for Liverpool, Gerrard was proved right.