The 34-year-old attacking midfielder will reunite with Neymar at Santos, a move that was facilitated by his former friend and now teammate. Coutinho had been without a club since his departure from Vasco da Gama in February.
Coutinho's decision to join Santos was heavily influenced by Neymar, who was the first to contact him after his departure from Vasco da Gama. The two have been friends since their youth days, and Neymar's persistence eventually paid off. Coutinho had initially turned down Neymar's offer, but was convinced to join Santos after a second and third attempt.
During his time away from football, Coutinho found solace in simple things in life, which ultimately helped him make the decision to return to the pitch. He expressed his desire to experience the joy of playing football again, a passion that has driven him throughout his career.
Coutinho's return to football will be a welcome sight for Santos fans, but may not be as well-received by the supporters of Vasco da Gama, the club he left in February. The Brazilian midfielder has expressed his gratitude towards Vasco da Gama, where he grew up and developed as a player.
Coutinho will now focus on regaining his fitness and will make his debut for Santos after being trained for a few weeks. The exact date of his debut is still unclear, but one thing is certain: the attacking midfielder is eager to get back on the pitch and experience the thrill of playing football once again.