It's over! Coutinho, the former talented Liverpool playmaker, revealed the heartbreaking reason for requesting an early contract termination with Vasco, insisting he can no longer bear the burden.
On 19 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Philippe Coutinho is about to end his time with Vasco da Gama after expressing his wish to cancel his contract to protect his feelings amid ongoing criticism and boos from fans, even though the original agreement was set to expire in June.
Coutinho opened up about his reason for wanting to cancel the contract: “I feel and realize that my cycle with this club has come to an end, and I have chosen not to return, prioritizing my mental health first. It’s very painful.”
“The truth is, my mental state is extremely exhausted. I have always been quite reserved, so speaking openly like this is not easy. But I need to be honest with my feelings. I will always keep Vasco in my heart, both in my life’s history and my career path. Sincerely... thank you for everything.”
This situation reflects how Coutinho’s career path has changed significantly since leaving the “Reds” Liverpool in 2018, after former coach Jürgen Klopp warned him, “If you stay here, they will build a statue for you. But if you move elsewhere, you will just be another player.”
His record club transfer fee of £142 million to Barcelona did not meet expectations. Coutinho faced a loan period at Bayern Munich before joining Aston Villa on loan and later signing permanently.
However, he played only 43 matches with the “Villains” before moving on loan to Al-Duhail in Qatar, followed by Vasco in 2024, then transferring permanently the following year.
He is about to turn 34 this summer and has not been called up to the Brazil national team since 2022, raising important questions about the next direction for this once-talented playmaker.