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.
