Ex-Man United player, 19, was found dead in bedroom weeks after quitting football – as family pay tribute
HEARTFELT tributes have poured in for an ex-Manchester United star who was found dead in his bedroom just weeks after quitting football.
Vinicius de Oliveira Cabral de Souza, known to loved ones as Vini, tragically died aged 19 three months ago, an inquest heard.
He was found dead in his bedroom at his family home in Walkden on February 20, the court heard.
Vini was born in Brazil and grew up in Portugal before moving to the UK.
The young talent played for the Manchester United youth team at one point but was dropped by the Prem big shots when he was 14-years-old.
Despite this setback, Vini continued playing football for the next five years and was on the books at Warrington Town FC before his death.
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However, it was revealed that the teenager had quit football a few months prior to the tragedy, Bolton Coroner's Court heard.
Vini's sister, Mayara De Souza, said that she had noticed his mood change and tried to help.
She said: "He stopped doing the things that he liked to do such as football, going to the gym and seeing friends.
"He started apologising about the way he treated us and we didn't understand what he meant.
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"His best friend as well, he said the same to him and he said he doesn't know why."
The teen's self-esteem had also taken a hit when his acne returned after the steroid cream he had been prescribed had run out.
When doctors would not prescribe more of the steroid cream, Vini bought some online from India but his sister told him not to use it.
Vini had booked tickets to travel to Brazil in April, the inquest heard, and was due to return on May 12 before his tragic death.
Cops concluded that Vini died as a result of "self-inflicted means by hanging" after finding him dead back in February.
The inquest heard that Vini stopped going out with his friends after telling his mum that he had taken drugs at a nightclub on one occasion a few months before his death.
A toxicologist's report found no trace of drugs or alcohol in Vini's system when he died.
However, Vini said that all of his friends used drugs which led to him feeling more "isolated" in the last few months of his life.
Sharing the news of Vini's death in February, Warrington Town FC said: "Scorer of the most spectacular goals, Vini was a well respected, much-loved member of the club, and his ability earned him a place training with the first team despite his young age.
"He played for the first team last season in the Cheshire Senior Cup against Cheadle Town, and trained regularly with the first team, appearing in numerous pre-season friendlies over the past couple of seasons."
Assistant coroner Stephen Teesdale said he was satisfied that Vini caused his own death and recorded a conclusion of "suicide".
Addressing Vini's sister and father at the inquest, Mr Teesdale said: "There's nothing more you could have done. You did everything.
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"You spotted the problem - depression. You made a plan, you sought professional assistance from a psychotherapist.
"You had a plan to take him to Brazil. There's nothing more you could have done. He had an entirely supportive family. It was to do with how he saw the world."
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- HUMEN
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,, 116 123