Coutinho Talks About His Return to Santos: A New Chapter in His Career

This Monday (14), Philippe Coutinho and Rodinei were introduced as Santos’ new signings. The attacking midfielder did not hesitate to open up about his departure from Vasco, which took place in February of this year.

The Challenges at Vasco

Coutinho revealed that living in São Januário was not easy during his most recent stint. “Anyone who was there knows the whole stadium was heckling me and demanding my exit. It was very tough. Vasco has always been my home, and I did everything I could to come back,” he said. For him, the decision to leave the club was one of the hardest, but necessary, to prioritize his health. “I was completely honest about my feelings. At no point did I abandon Vasco.”

With 34 years and now wearing the 11 Santos jersey, Coutinho has been facing criticism from the Vasco supporters for his change. And, in a press conference, he explained how he came to make that difficult decision: “When the chance to go back to Vasco came up, I had one year left on my contract in Qatar, where I was earning 10 million in clean dollars.”

Values and Priorities

Coutinho continued his rant, making it clear that he always wanted Vasco to not have to spend anything to see him back. “The only way for that to happen was to give up my salary and the amounts I still had to receive from Aston Villa. I did it out of care for the club.” He also mentioned how heavy it was not to have been able to win titles with Vasco, even though he stood out outside Brazil.

The Friendship with Neymar

Another point Coutinho highlighted was Neymar’s influence on his move to Santos. “Neymar played an important role in my life. He was the first person to message me after my departure from Vasco.” Coutinho said that their conversation dragged on for months, until recently, when he decided to give the new phase a chance. “I’m going to a big club, in another city. It would be unfair for me not to go back to work.” He also thanked President Marcelo Teixeira and the entire front office for the opportunity.

What to Expect From His Debut?

Coutinho commented on his four-month contract with Peixe. “That’s what was offered to me, and I decided to accept; playing alongside Neymar weighs a lot.” The player left open what could happen next year, but made sure to say that he was full of desire to do a great job.

After seven months away from the pitch, he shows confidence. “I feel good physically. I’ve been training this whole time, but playing is different. I don’t know when I’ll debut, but I hope it’s soon.” He is eager to get to know the players better and adapt to the coach’s style.

Coutinho is back in Brazil and, without a doubt, promises to shake up the Campeonato Brasileiro! ??