RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Santos has completed the signing of former Liverpool and Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho on a free transfer, the Brazilian club said on Monday.
The 34-year-old, who completed a medical at the Rei Pele training center on the weekend, signed a deal that runs until December.
"With recognized technical quality and vision, in addition to a winning career in Europe and with the Brazilian national team, the midfielder arrives with a contract valid until the end of 2026," Santos said in a social media post.
Coutinho had been without a club since parting ways with Vasco da Gama in February, citing mental fatigue.
He admitted his long-time friend Neymar had played a key role in bringing him to the club. The pair previously played together for Brazil at both youth and senior levels, including at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
"Neymar has definitely played an important role in my life," Coutinho told a news conference. "He's a friend I've had since childhood. He was the first person in football to send me a message when I left Vasco. He said it would be a pleasure to play together, but at that moment I couldn't - I wasn't doing well.
"It didn't make sense to me. He spoke to me again a few months later, and my answer was the same. Time passed. Two weeks ago, he sent another message, and I reconsidered."
Coutinho is the latest in a series of high profile signings for Santos, including former Barcelona and Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo and ex-Brazil forward Everton Cebolinha. ■
