Bradley Barcola 'confirms' Liverpool shirt number he will 'never let go' | OneFootball

The incoming forward says his shirt number pick is “symbolic” ahead of £123m move

The France star is set to finalise a £123million move to Anfield this weekend, with a medical booked and a five-year contract set to be signed.

Barcola will become Liverpool's headline signing of the summer, replacing the departed Mohamed Salah, with just a few days of the transfer window left to run.

While Salah wore the no11 shirt number at Anfield, Barcola is expected to pick another number which he will "never let go".

Also available are 13, 16, 17, 24, 26 and 27, but it is No29 which Barcola is set to pick - all because of video game FIFA.

In an interview with Club Legacyz last year, Barcola explained his preferred shirt number choice.

He said: "It’s actually a funny story.

"When I was younger, I used to play FIFA. In the story mode with Alex Hunter, this number became symbolic for me. I thought to myself: 'The day I go pro, it’ll be number 29.'

"And here I am, I adopted it, and now I’ll never let it go."

Alex Hunter was the main character in FIFA’s ‘The Journey’ story mode, starting in FIFA 17, where players could embody the player and guide him through the ranks from non-league to the top of the game.

Fans have often compared Hunter to that of Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, who emerged around the same time of Hunter’s first appearance.

Barcola will become the first Liverpool player since Arthur Melo in the 2022-23 season to wear the No29 shirt.

Other players to have pulled on the shirt include Dominic Solanke, Fabio Borini and goalkeepers Stephen Wright and Brad Friedel. Not the most glittering roll call.

In the same interview, Barcola also explained his preferred goal celebration.

As mentioned above, Barcola also opened up about his celebration. The Frenchman often points his fingers to the sky after scoring a goal.

He said: "Every player has their own way of celebrating, and for me, it’s by pointing my fingers to the sky.

"I thank God for everything he’s given me. It’s my way of paying homage to him every time I score."