The promising player was found dead in his bedroom in February
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06:25, 21 May 2025
Former Warrington Town player Vini Desouza
Warrington Town announced Vini's sudden death in February(Image: Sean Walsh/Warrington Town FC)
A young footballer who once played for Manchester United died after his family spotted a 'sudden change' in his mood, an inquest has heard.
Vinicius de Oliveira Cabral de Souza, known to loved ones as Vini, was found dead in his bedroom at his family home in Walkden on February 20. The 19-year-old who was born in Brazil and grew up in Portugal before moving to the UK played for Warrington Town FC.
But Bolton Coroner's Court heard on Tuesday (May 20) that the teenager had quit football a few months before his tragic death.
The inquest heard that the warehouse worker had expressed 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 told 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 taken a hit when his acne returned after the steroid cream he had been prescribed had run out.
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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.
Miss De Souza, who did not live at the family home in Brackley Street, said that she had noticed Vini's 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.
"His best friend as well, he said the same to him and he said he doesn't know why."
Last December, Miss De Souza told her brother that she thought he was depressed - but she told the inquest 'he just laughed at me'.
She then booked a session for him with a psychotherapist which he attended in January, but he declined the offer of further sessions.
Vini had booked tickets to travel to Brazil in April, the inquest heard, and was due to return on May 12. But he sadly died in February.
Miss De Souza added: "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 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.
Vini was found dead in his bedroom on February 20. Police concluded that Vini died as a result of 'self-inflicted means by hanging'.
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.
"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."
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.
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"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."