Liverpool or Barcelona? Brazil legend Ronaldinho gives future advice to Jurgen Klopp's star Philippe Coutinho

Brazil World Cup winner Ronaldinho has backed Barcelona to complete the signing of his compatriot Philippe Coutinho and claims the Liverpool star will "perfectly suit" at Camp Nou.

The 25-year-old was heavily linked with a move to the Catalan club in the summer transfer window. The Spanish club's new manager Ernesto Valverde had identified the Reds midfielder as the top priority target.

Coutinho was keen on leaving the Merseyside club for the La Liga leaders in the summer. He even handed in a transfer request in order to force a move away from Liverpool. However, Jurgen Klopp's side had no intention of sanctioning the transfer of the Brazil international.

Ronaldinho, who played for Barcelona between 2003 to 2008, remains hopeful to see Coutinho play for his former club.

"I believe the way he plays will perfectly suit Barcelona and would be delighted to see a player of such quality wear the shirt. I would be very happy to see such a talented player wear the shirt I wore for so many years," Ronaldinho told Sky Sports.

Barcelona CEO Oscar Grau has already admitted that the La Liga leaders have the financial muscle to sign Coutinho in January. According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Valverde is still interested in the former Inter Milan man and the club officials will meet their Liverpool counterparts to start negotiations over a possibility of signing the midfielder in the mid-season transfer window.

The former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona star was in London as the Football for Peace ambassador. Ronaldinho also stressed that Brazil needs a player like Coutinho in order to improve their chances of winning the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

On Coutinho, he further added: "I like the way Coutinho plays and the type of football he brings. Those types of qualities will hopefully help Brazil win the next World Cup."