Philippe Coutinho has signed for Santos and will be reunited with former international team-mate Neymar Jr.

The 34-year-old has joined the Brazilian side for the rest of the season after leaving boyhood club Vasco da Gama back in February.

Coutinho marked the transfer by posing for a picture with Neymar, as the pair recreated an old photograph from their days in the Brazil youth set-up, with a digital camera.

And when speaking for the first time as a Santos player, the former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder confirmed that Neymar had a major part to play in his decision to make the move.

'Neymar certainly played a very important role in my coming here,' Coutinho said on Monday. 'He's a player who needs no introduction, a friend I've had since childhood, and I think he was the first person in football to send me a message when I left Vasco.

'The next day he had already sent me a message, but at that moment I said: "Look Ney, it would be a pleasure to play with you, but I'm not feeling well right now, it's not possible" and it really didn't make sense to me.

'Months later he contacted me again, but my answer was the same. Then two weeks ago he sent me another message... Then I stopped, reconsidered... I wanted to go back to playing football and I thought: "Why not?"

'I'm going to a big club, in another city. It would be unfair to me not being able to go back to work and not being able to go back to playing football.

'I wanted to thank the president, Mattos and Ney. I'm happy to accept this challenge.'

Coutinho confirmed his departure from Vasco earlier this year, saying that he is 'mentally exhausted' in an emotional statement on social media.

Coutinho re-joined the Brazilian side on a permanent deal last year, following a short loan spell during his stint at Aston Villa, and seemed likely to extend his stay at the club.

However, after being repeatedly booed by his own fans in his final weeks at the club that, he realised that it was a good time for him 'step back' from playing for a period, which is now over.

In a statement at the time, he said: 'The truth is, I'm very mentally exhausted,' he continued. 'I've always been very reserved, so saying this here isn't easy, but I need to be honest.

'My relationship with Vasco is one of love. And it will continue to be forever. With a heavy heart, I understand that now is the time to take a step back and end this chapter at Vasco.

'I am grateful for everything I experienced here. I will carry Vasco with me forever. In my heart. In my history. In my life. From the bottom of my heart… Thank you for everything.'

The midfielder came through Vasco's youth academy before being scouted by Serie A giants Inter Milan in 2008, returning on loan for a brief spell as a teenager.

He impressed at the San Siro as a youngster ahead of signing for Liverpool in 2013, where he spent another five years before moving to Barcelona in still one of the most expensive transfers of all time.

During his time at Anfield, Coutinho made 152 appearances for the Reds and netted 41 goals.

His sale fee enabled Liverpool to sign a handful of important players under Jurgen Klopp, including Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.