Coutinho has been out of football for almost seven months, last playing for Vasco da Gama on February 14. His departure from the club was due to a personal and complicated situation, and he decided to leave to care for his mental health. During his time away from football, Coutinho has been training individually and maintaining his physical condition.
The midfielder has played for several clubs, including Inter, Espanyol, Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern, Aston Villa, Al Duhail, and Vasco da Gama. His return to football is expected to be a gradual process, with the intention of getting back into competition as quickly as possible. Neymar, Coutinho's former teammate in the Brazil national team, is believed to have recommended Coutinho's arrival at Santos.
Neymar's return to Santos has also played a role in the club's reconstruction, with the help of his representative's company, which helped lift the ban on new player signings. Coutinho's signing is seen as a significant addition to the Santos squad, and he will be reunited with Neymar, with whom he played for the Brazil national team.
Coutinho will undergo medical tests this Friday to finalize the agreement, which will be a three-month contract until the end of the year.