Former Liverpool Brazil international attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho announced on Sunday via his official Instagram account that he has terminated his contract with Vasco da Gama, effective immediately.

In his post, Coutinho stated that despite his best efforts, he was constantly criticized and even booed by fans. Over time, this exacerbated his psychological trauma, even leading to depression. Therefore, for the sake of his mental and physical well-being, he has made the difficult decision to leave Vasco da Gama immediately.

He added that although he is leaving, his love for Vasco da Gama will never fade, as it is the club where his career began, and he thanked everyone who supported him during his time at the club.

Coutinho wrote: “I really thought this through carefully before writing this. But out of respect, love, and affection for you and this club, I felt I needed to come here and speak frankly with everyone.”

“I chose to return to Vasco because I truly love this club. I love everything Vasco represents in my life.”

“Wearing this shirt was one of the most important decisions I ever made. In every training session, in every match, I gave my all. Always! I never lacked dedication, never lacked willpower and determination.”

“It really hurts that countless people judge me for things unrelated to my character.”

“I will never disrespect the fans, my teammates, or Vasco. I have never done so, anywhere. Anyone who knows me knows that.”

“That moment on the way to the locker room, I realized that my time at the club was over and for the sake of my mental health, I didn’t go back. "

"It really pains me. I'm mentally exhausted, to be honest. I've always been very private, so it's not easy to talk about this here, but I have to be honest."

"I have a loving relationship with Vasco. This love will last forever."

“However, I understand with a heavy heart that it is time to leave and end my journey in Vasco.”

"I'm grateful for everything I experienced here. I will always hold Vasco in my heart. It will always be in my heart. It will always be in my history. It will always be in my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything."

Although there are rumours online which claimed that Coutinho may join the Los Angeles Galaxy next, these rumours have been refuted.

American media outlet CBS Sports' resident renowned transfer journalist Ben Jacobs, denied that industry reporters have not heard that Coutinho will join the Los Angeles Galaxy, nor have they heard that the Reds' former No. 10 player has chosen his next club.

Because Coutinho's departure from Vasco da Gama was so sudden, no Major League Soccer (MLS) club currently made any plan to sign him.

Coutinho was booed by fans during Vasco da Gama's recent match against Volta Redonda and was substituted at halftime.

After being substituted, Coutinho did not return to the bench for the second half, instead leaving the stadium directly, drawing criticism for his lack of respect for the fans, the team, and his teammates.

Vasco da Gama has had a very poor start to the season, sitting 17th in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A table with one draw and two losses in their first three matches.

About Philippe Coutinho

The 33-year-old Coutinho was born on June 12, 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is 1.72 meters tall and primarily plays as an attacking midfielder, but can also play as a left winger. He holds dual Brazilian and Italian citizenship.

Coutinho came through the youth academy of Vasco da Gama and also played for Inter Milan and Espanyol early in his career.

In 2013, Coutinho joined Liverpool for £8 million, marking the peak of his career.

On January 6, 2018, Coutinho joined Barcelona for €142 million, becoming the second most expensive Brazilian player after Neymar.

However, due to his inability to adapt to Barcelona's tactical system, Coutinho, despite winning two La Liga titles with the club, faced considerable criticism.

During this time, he was also loaned-out to Bayern Munich, where he scored twice in the Champions League quarter-finals, helping Bayern defeat his parent club Barcelona 8-2.

In January 2022, Coutinho was loaned-out to Aston Villa. His ownership was later permanently purchased for £17 million.

However, following the sacking of his former teammate Steven Gerrard, Coutinho was completely frozen out by the Premier League club due to falling out of favour by his successor, Unai Emery.

The following September, Coutinho joined Al-Duhail on loan.

In July 2024, Coutinho returned to Vasco da Gama on-loan, and then rejoined the club on a free transfer a year later.

During his 18-month spell at Vasco da Gama, Coutinho made 81 appearances for the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club in all competitions, scoring 17 goals and providing 8 assists.

Image source: Internet / The Athletic