"Philippe Coutinho like Alesandro Del Piero!" - Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp
Jürgen Klopp believes Bayern Munich have acquired a world-class operator in former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho, and has likened the Barcelona loanee to Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero.
Coutinho made 89 of his 201 competitive appearances for Liverpool under Klopp, before transferring to Barcelona in January 2018.
The 55-time Brazil international scored 54 goals for the English Premier League club, including a number of trademark long-range efforts after floating in from the left-hand side in a manner that reminds Klopp of Del Piero - the Italian 2006 FIFA World Cup winner who tallied over 200 goals in a decorated stint for Juventus between 1993 and 2012.
"Coutinho has an unbelievable eye for goal from range," the former Mainz and Borussia Dortmund boss explained.
"I haven't seen seen a player coming in off the left and striking the ball with such regularity and precision from those kind of positions since Del Piero."
As well as being a player with the ability to score goals out of nothing, Klopp says Bayern are also inheriting an incredibly versatile attacker who he believes can be a real hit in the Bundesliga.
"Coutinho didn't get to play in his preferred No.10 role all that much when he was with us, but he's a great No.8 and is a fantastic left winger because he's incredibly good in tight spaces and has the pace to exploit bigger spaces," he explained.
"He dominates football matches, and is a real asset if he can put his stamp on the team.
"Bayern needed him, and Bayern wanted him. If they can integrate him and get the very best out of him, the Bundesliga will have a top player on its hands."
Watch: Philippe Coutinho's official unveiling as a Bayern Munich player
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Coutinho, who registered 11 goals and five assists in 54 appearances for parent club Barcelona in 2018/19, could make his Bundesliga debut when Bayern travel to Schalke on Saturday.
The defending champions are looking for their first win of the new league season after being held to a 2-2 draw by Hertha Berlin on Matchday 1.
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