Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes Philippe Coutinho will be the next Reds player to attract the interest of Real Madrid or Barcelona.
Signed for £8.5m in 2013 from Inter Milan, the 23-year-old has become one of the leading players at Anfield.
Since arriving at Liverpool two years ago, Coutinho has played tournament football for Brazil and also scored his first international goal in a friendly win over Mexico in June.
The skill and star quality of the attacking midfielder will catch the eye of the Spanish giants according to Gerrard.
Writing in his new autobiography, My Story, which is being serialised by the Daily Mail, the former Reds captain said: “Philippe is wonderfully gifted and I expect him to become Liverpool’s leading player.
“Many Liverpool fans already regard him as our main man.
He has just signed a new deal and he and his wife — who are a lovely couple — seem settled here.
Luis Suarez was the last Liverpool player to depart Merseyside for the Camp Nou and Gerrard believes that Coutinho could join the likes of Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso, and Alvaro Arbeloa on the list of players leaving the Reds to join either Barcelona or Real Madrid in recent years.
He continued: “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 of those two clubs is so strong for any South American or Spanish player.
Until that happens, Liverpool should really treasure Philippe.
Coutinho scored the winning goal for the Reds in their opening day triumph at Stoke City, but was sent off for two bookable offences in the home defeat by West Ham United on August 29.
The Brazilian missed the 3-1 loss at Old Trafford through suspension, but will be available for selection when Brendan Rodgers’ side visit Bordeaux on Thursday evening.
