Those paying particularly close attention to Philippe Coutinho‘s performances for Bayern Munich at home this season may have noticed something peculiar about his shirt.
For the Brazilian has been unable to wear the club’s ‘authentic’ match day jersey usually put on by first team stars at the Allianz Arena because they do not fit.
Instead, Coutinho has had to wear a replica shirt that Bayern fans can go and pick up from the club mega store in every home game he has played this season.
According to the Bundesliga’s official website, the former Liverpool midfielder, who stands at 5’6″, has also had to wear a child-sized jersey in order for it to fit to his liking.
Adidas supply Bayern Munich’s kit and their ‘authentic’ jerseys are said to be lighter and also dry quicker than the normal ones.
But eagle-eyed fans noticed that Coutinho was wearing a different shirt to the rest of his colleagues recently.
It is clearly visible in pictures comparing the shirts of Coutinho and team-mate David Alaba that the Brazilian’s is made of a different material.
It is claimed that Coutinho’s team-mate Joshua Kimmich has also been wearing a replica shirt.
Coutinho doesn’t seem to mind which shirt he wears after producing a stunning individual display against Werder Breman last week, scoring three goals and adding two assists.
Bayern’s ‘authentic’ away and third kits do fit Coutinho and adidas have reportedly pledged to make a home kit that fits him for the start of the second half of the season.
Coutinho is spending the season on loan in Munich from Barcelona. He has seven goals and seven assists in his 20 games for Bayern across all competitions.
Coutinho will have one more match in his junior jersey. Bayern travel to Freiburg on Wednesday before they host Wolfsburg in their final match of the calendar year at the weekend.
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