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Philippe Coutinho ‘proud’ to a cover star for PES 2018… but the Barcelona target is wearing a Brazil shirt rather than Liverpool red

Only one out of eight previous Pro Evo covers have featured a player wearing his national jersey.

LIVERPOOL ace Philippe Coutinho will star on the front cover of the new Pro Evolution Soccer game.

But the Barcelona target is unusually wearing his Brazil national shirt instead of his current Liverpool colours.

 Philippe Coutinho will star on the front cover of the new PES
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Philippe Coutinho will star on the front cover of the new PESCredit: Konami
 Barcelona are trying to prise Philippe Coutinho away from Liverpool
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Barcelona are trying to prise Philippe Coutinho away from LiverpoolCredit: Rex Features

In the previous eight front covers of PES, only one has featured a footballer wearing his national colours with Neymar in 2015.

And in a further twist Coutinho is sponsored by Nike and Komani, the maker of the popular game, which are two of Barcelona's club partners.

In Coutinho's first tweet for two years he wrote: "I'm very happy and proud to be on the cover of the best football game ever!"

The 25-year-old is thought to be on the brink of leaving Anfield for the Nou Camp.

Barca are desperate to sign Neymar's replacement and are willing to fork out £90million to land his signature.

Coutinho is thought to be keen for a move to the Catalan giants but only if the two clubs can agree a deal amicably.

 Jurgen Klopp fears he is facing a losing battle to keep hold of Philippe Coutinho
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Jurgen Klopp fears he is facing a losing battle to keep hold of Philippe CoutinhoCredit: Rex Features
 The latest Pro Evo will be released on September 12
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The latest Pro Evo will be released on September 12
 The new game will include a host of new features including better corner kick control
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The new game will include a host of new features including better corner kick control

Liverpool have stood firm in their stance of not cashing in on their star man.

But boss Jurgen Klopp is fully aware of the increasing difficulty to keep hold of Coutinho if his head has been turned.

He further fuelled transfer speculation when he sat out of Liverpool's pre-season victory over Athletic Bilbao.

The club revealed Coutinho was recovering from a minor knock but is expected to be fit to face Watford


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