Coutinho cleared to play, targets fitness before Santos debut | OneFootball

Philippe Coutinho was registered in the BID (Boletim Informativo Diário da CBF) on Tuesday 15, making him eligible to debut for Santos, though he is still building match fitness.

According to Diario Do Peixe, the No 11 can feature in the closing Brasileirão rounds and could play in the Sudamericana if the team qualify for the semi-finals.

Coutinho has been without a club since ending his Vasco contract in February and last played seven months ago. On 14 February he started and captained, playing 45 minutes of a 1-1 draw with Volta Redonda at São Januário in the Carioca quarter-finals. After he went off, Vasco conceded the equaliser, then won the shootout 6-5.

Before he signed, his camp asked the club for a few weeks to get him to 100%, and they believe he could be in ideal condition after the FIFA international break.

This year he has only seven appearances, four in the Carioca with two goals and one assist, plus three Brasileirão matches with one goal.

Santos have 12 league fixtures remaining, against Remo, São Paulo, Flamengo, Atlético-MG, Fluminense, Bahia, Palmeiras, Red Bull Bragantino, Coritiba, Grêmio, Vitória and Botafogo. Their schedule could grow if they progress in the Sudamericana.

Source: Diario Do Peixe

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”