Philippe Coutinho was an undisputed star at Liverpool. Barcelona undoubtedly hoped that the Brazilian international would continue his brilliant performances in a new environment.
However, that didn’t happen. The attacking midfielder was first loaned to Bayern Munich, then to Aston Villa, and later sold to the Birmingham club for 20 million euros.
In the summer of 2024, Coutinho returned to his homeland on a temporary transfer to Vasco da Gama. A year later, he permanently joined the club where he started his career.
Seven months later, the 33-year-old parted ways with the Rio de Janeiro team. Why did the Copa America winner make such a decision? He explained his reasons in a post on Instagram:
– I decided to return to Vasco because I love this club. (…) During every training session, every match, I gave my all. Always! I never lacked dedication, desire, or commitment.
Being judged by countless people for something that is not part of my character is extremely difficult. I would never disrespect the fans, my teammates, or Vasco. I have never done that, no matter where I’ve been. Everyone who knows me is aware of this, – wrote the Brazilian.
– At that moment, on my way to the locker room, I felt and realized that my time at the club had come to an end, and I didn’t return to prioritize my mental health. This hurts a lot. The truth is, I am very mentally exhausted.
I’ve always been very reserved, so it’s not easy for me to talk about this, but I need to be honest. With a heavy heart, I understand that it’s time to take a step back and close this chapter with Vasco, – Coutinho admitted in an emotional post.