John Barnes admitted he would 'have Roberto Firmino in any squad' after the Liverpool striker was left out of Brazil's World Cup party.
The Reds star learned of his fate last Monday as Brazil manager Tite confirmed his 26-man squad, although teammates Fabinho and Alisson Becker both made the cut. The Seleção are favourites to secure a sixth world title in the Middle East and have been drawn in Group G where they will face Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.
Firmino has had only one international call-up since playing in the Copa America defeat to Argentina in July last year and faces stiff competition from the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison in leading the line, but a scintillating spell at club level - he is Liverpool's most creative player in the Premier League with seven goals and three assists - looked to have put the 31-year-old back in contention.
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But last Monday's selection announcement came and went without Firmino's name among his compatriots, and former Reds star Barnes admits he would have his 'favourite Liverpool player' in any of his squads - although he admitted he cannot speak for Tite or any Brazilian on the matter.
"Well I love Roberto Firmino," Barnes told BonusCodeBets . "He’s my favourite Liverpool player when you look at what he actually gives the team. I don’t know enough about Brazil and their squad to say he should definitely be in the team but I will always have Roberto Firmino in any squad because of what he brings to the team.
“What he offers Liverpool is hard work, commitment, he links the play, he’s our most technical striker and that’s including Mo Salah, Nunez and Jota. He’s a player who plays in tight areas who can link the play. Maybe Brazil has a lot of those players so I can’t say what he can give to Brazil as opposed to any other player but I know what he brings to Liverpool.”
Firmino will join the rest of the Reds not heading to Qatar in a training Camp in Dubai, where they will face AC Milan and Lyon in two friendlies.
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