Philippe Coutinho has parted ways with his boyhood club, Vasco da Gama, for the second time in his career after agreeing to mutually terminate his contract with the club.
Coutinho has released a statement online where he made clear that he was “mentally exhausted.”
Coutinho’s career has been an up-and-down affair ever since his record-breaking move to Barcelona in 2018.
Despite it being the Brazilian’s dream move, he never settled at Barcelona, nor did he replicate the magic he produced at Liverpool during later spells at Bayern Munich or Aston Villa. Eventually, after a short spell on loan in Qatar with Al-Duhail, he returned to his boyhood club, Vasco da Gama, in 2024.
Although he showed moments of his younger self and produced respectable numbers, scoring 17 times across 80 appearances, he has come under fire from Vasco fans, especially due to their poor run of form at the end of last season and the start of this season’s campaign, and it appears to have taken its toll on the number 10.
🚨🇧🇷 Philippe Coutinho has decided to leave Vasco da Gama with immediate effect by mutual agreement.
Recently, Coutinho was booed off at half-time against Volta Redonda in the Campeonato Carioca and did not return to the bench after being substituted during the interval.
Fans often love to see a player return to the place where it once started for them later on in their career, as has happened with many players, including fellow compatriots Neymar, Lucas Moura and Marcelo, to name just a few, with Neymar showing support to Coutinho after his decision.
However, reality can be a little different and does not always result in a fairytale ending, more often than not.
Klopp’s foreshadowing bears true
Ironically, former coach Jurgen Klopp was once quoted as saying, when talking about Coutinho leaving Liverpool:
“I told him stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honour. Go somewhere else, to Barcelona, to Bayern Munich, to Real Madrid and you will be just another player. Here you can be something more.”
🔴 Liverpool's best rated players under Klopp in the PL (50+ apps):
🥇 Coutinho – 7.63 🥈 Salah – 7.41 🥉 Mane – 7.38 🏅 Van Dijk – 7.23 🏅 Firmino – 7.20 pic.twitter.com/qeLPPp6R0O
Whilst fans will never know if Coutinho would have continued his form if he had stayed on at Liverpool, one thing that is certainly true is that he has fallen away since signing that contract with Barcelona and never had the ‘starman’ label again.
Reports from Spain (via Lance) have also commented on how Coutinho ‘never reached his potential,’ with his time in Barcelona still remembered as underwhelming.
A courageous stance on mental health in football
What is interesting is Coutinho’s comments on his mental health, made even more relevant by Virgil van Dijk’s recent comments on the mental health of young players and the impact media and fans can have on the well-being of the players.
Coutinho is, of course, reaching the latter stages of his career; however, it just goes to show that negative actions towards a player can drive them out of a club.
He also said in his farewell message to the fans:
“I didn’t return to prioritise my mental health… being judged for something that isn’t part of my character is difficult.”
Coutinho has clearly taken enough and for a player of his stature, he will feel that he and his family are at the stage where they should prioritise themselves over his footballing career.
Coutinho is now a free agent and, at 33 years old, he certainly still has a lot to offer.
He was performing at a good level in Brazil and may be approached by other Serie A clubs before the transfer window closes. One thing is for sure: he won’t be without options for long.
