Philippe Coutinho Talks About His Return to Santos

On the afternoon of this Monday (14), Philippe Coutinho was officially presented as a new reinforcement for Santos. Alongside Rodinei, he shared details about his departure from Vasco, which took place in February of this year. Let’s see what he said!

Venting About Vasco

Coutinho did not hide the pain he felt when leaving the club where he grew up.

“Anyone who was at São Januário knows that the fans were insulting me and asking for my exit. It was very tough. Vasco has always been my home, and I did everything to come back. But there were difficult issues, and to prioritize my health, I made the most complicated decision of my life. I’ve always been honest about my feelings and I never abandoned Vasco. I reached my limit and, in that way, I wouldn’t be able to help anyone.”

He also said he wanted people to hear the player’s side, and that it would be important for many to understand his perspective.

A Difficult Decision

During the press conference, the player from 34 years old, who now wears the 11 Santos shirt, also spoke about the criticism he has been facing, especially from the Vasco fans.

“I’ve been trying to shield myself, but I know the reaction to my arrival at Santos was big. For me, Vasco has always been my home. I was raised there and played through the entire youth setup. I always made clear how much I care about the club. When the chance to come back arose, I had one year left on my contract in Qatar, where I was earning 10 million clean dollars, and I also had one more year remaining at Aston Villa.”

Coutinho emphasized that his intention was never to pay for his return to Vasco. To do that, he had to give up a high salary and the amounts he would receive from Aston Villa.

“I gave everything to come back to Vasco out of love. During my time there, we had the chance to play the Copa do Brasil final, but we lost, and that was very heavy for me. I won many titles outside Brazil and I wanted to be a champion with Vasco, maybe even become an idol, but unfortunately it wasn’t possible.”

Neymar’s Role in the Decision

The player also commented on how Neymar was crucial to his return to Brazilian football. After some time without playing, he received messages from his friend:

“Neymar was super important in my life. He was the first person to message me when I left Vasco, asking if I wanted to play with him. But at that moment, I wasn’t doing well. Recently, he sent me another message and I reconsidered. I had the desire to go back to playing. After all, why not? I’m going to a big club, and it would be unfair not to go back to work.”

He also offered thanks to the club president Marcelo Teixeira and his team for the invitation, showing how happy he is with this new challenge.

Short Contract with Santos

Coutinho explained that his contract with the Peixe is only four months because that’s what was offered to him.

“Playing alongside Neymar carries a lot of weight. About next year, I can’t answer. What I can guarantee is that I’m coming with the desire to work and perform well. We’ll see what happens afterward.”

Expectation for His Debut

Finally, Coutinho, who has been away from the pitch for seven months, did not set a date for his debut, but said he feels good physically.

“I’m training and preparing, but it’s not the same as playing. I need some time to adapt to the team and the coach. I hope the debut happens as soon as possible, because I’m willing to work hard for it.”

So, what do you think about Coutinho’s return to Brazil? Let’s closely follow this new phase of his at Santos!