Coutinho bids farewell in open letter, Vasco await legal process | OneFootball

The cycle of Philippe Coutinho at Vasco da Gama is now publicly over. The confirmation came through an open letter published by the player himself on his social media this Wednesday (18). In the text, filled with outpourings, the midfielder breaks the silence about his sudden departure, citing psychological exhaustion as the main reason for breaking the bond. “The truth is that I am very mentally tired”, wrote the athlete, putting an end to speculations.

Coutinho detailed the exact moment he decided to leave the club: the halftime of the match against Volta Redonda last Saturday. According to him, the “trigger” occurred on the way to the locker room when he realized his time at São Januário was over.

The statement justifies his absence from the bench during the second half, an action that had caused a stir behind the scenes.

+ Philippe Coutinho requests termination and departure from Vasco is expected to be made official today

The Institutional Silence of Vasco

While the player bids farewell to the fans, Vasco adopts a stance of procedural silence. So far, the club has not issued an official statement confirming the departure or thanking him for his services. The board's strategy is purely legal: the Cruz-Maltino will only publicly comment on the case when all the bureaucratic procedures of the termination are duly signed and formalized.

The decision aims to strictly respect the role of employer and avoid any labor liabilities or premature announcements before the legal conclusion of the termination. Internally, the legal department is working to finalize the documentation as quickly as possible, formalizing the “step back” mentioned by the player.

Coutinho Upholds Character and Legacy

In his letter, Coutinho also made a point of defending his professional conduct, countering criticisms that he had disrespected the team.

He concludes his tenure by stating that he will carry the Gigante da Colina “in his heart, in history, and in life”, but acknowledging that for the sake of his health, the cycle needed to be immediately interrupted.

Star speaks out – Photo: Reproduction

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.