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Brazilian starlet seeks to follow Coutinho's trail

Xinhua, November 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Brazilian starlet Mateus Vital has revealed a desire to follow in the footsteps of Philippe Coutinho as he embarks on a career at the club where the diminutive Liverpool playmaker began.

Vital was last month promoted to Vasco da Gama's professional ranks after impressing for the club's U-20 team.

In an interview on the club's official website, the 17-year-old said his idol was Coutinho, who represented Vasco 19 times before a 2009 move to Inter Milan.

"Being called up was a surprise to me, I did not expect it," Vital said. "I was very happy because it meant I was fulfilling a part of my dream. I hope this can be the beginning of many achievements. I feel privileged to be following in the footsteps of my idol Coutinho.

"I hope to honor this shirt as much as he did. This achievement will be a milestone in my life."

Vital is expected to make his first-team debut for the Rio de Janeiro outfit in the coming weeks as Vasco strive to avoid relegation from Brazil's top flight. Endi