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VINICIUS DE OLIVEIRA CABRAL DE SOUZA, KNOWN TO HIS LOVED ONES AS VINI, WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS BEDROOM AT HIS FAMILY HOME IN WALKDEN, GREATER MANCHESTER, ON FEBRUARY 20 12:58, 21 May 2025 A

former Manchester United academy footballer tragically died after his family noticed a 'sudden change' in his mood, an inquest has heard. Vinicius de Oliveira Cabral de Souza,

affectionately known as Vini, was discovered dead in his bedroom at his family home in Walkden on February 20. The 19-year-old, born in Brazil and raised in Portugal before moving to the UK,

played for Warrington Town FC. However, Bolton Coroner's Court was told on Tuesday (May 20) that the teenager had quit football a few months prior to his tragic death. The inquest was

informed that he had voiced concerns about his career and repeatedly apologised to friends and family, saying 'I let you down', but according to his sister, Mayara De Souza, it was

unclear why he felt he had 'disappointed' them. His family revealed to the inquest that Vini was 'disappointed' when he was dropped by Manchester United at the age of 14

but he continued playing football for the next five years and never explained why he eventually 'gave up' and stopped training with Warrington Town. The teenager's

self-esteem had also suffered 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 purchased

some online from India but his sister advised him against using it. Article continues below Miss De Souza, who did not reside at the family home in Brackley Street, mentioned that she had

observed Vini's mood shift and attempted to help. She revealed: "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. "His best friend as well, he said the same to him and he said he doesn't know why." In

December of last year, Miss De Souza expressed her concerns to her brother, suspecting he was suffering from depression - but she told the inquest 'he just laughed at me'. She

subsequently arranged a session for him with a psychotherapist which he attended in January, but he declined the offer of further sessions. Vini had planned a trip to Brazil in April, the

inquest heard, and was due to return on May 12. Tragically, he passed away in February. Miss De Souza continued: "He said to my dad before he died, 'Am I going to be arrested for

this?' And [my dad] said, "for what?" "He said, 'because of the way that I am, I'm going to be arrested'. And there was an occasion where he saw a police

car but it was for a neighbour. He thought it was for him." The inquest was informed that Vini stopped socialising with his mates after confessing to his mum that he had taken drugs at

a nightclub on one occasion a few months prior to his death. A toxicologist's report found no trace of drugs or alcohol in Vini's system when he died. DON'T MISS A THING WITH

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more, right here However, Vini mentioned that all of his friends used drugs which led to him feeling increasingly 'isolated' in the final few months of his life. Vini was

tragically discovered deceased in his bedroom on February 20, with police determining that he died by 'self-inflicted means by hanging'. Assistant coroner Stephen Teesdale

concluded after an inquest that Vini had taken his own life and officially recorded a verdict of 'suicide'. In a heartfelt address to Vini's sister and father at the inquest,

Mr Teesdale assured them: "There's nothing more you could have done. You did everything. 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." Warrington Town FC, sharing their grief over the loss of Vini in February, expressed: "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." Article continues below FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, YOU CAN

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