Phillipe Coutinho says he is leaving boyhood club Vasco da Gama because he is "tired mentally" and his "cycle at the club has ended". In a lengthy, emotional statement on Instagram, the 33-year-old says he is leaving Vasco because "now is the time to take step back". The truth is that I'm very tired mentally. With a tight heart, I understand that now is the time to take a step back and end this cycle in Vasco. Coutinho has played 81 times and scored 17 goals for Vasco since rejoining for a second stint in 2024.

Source: BBC February 18, 2026 22:57 UTC