Nottingham Forest are raiding Brazil for their top talents once again this summer, with Botafogo firmly in the club’s sights.
All eyes are currently on the Club World Cup, with Igor Jesus set to sign for Forest shortly after their participation in the tournament has finished.
Jesus scored for Botafogo in their opening win over Seattle Sounders on Sunday and his performance caught the eye of the fan base and also saw him awarded the Player of the Match.
The 24-year-old striker is also bringing a teammate with him, with Forest also agreeing to sign Jair Cunha, who also scored in Botafogo’s maiden Club World Cup victory.
Forest were set for a triple swoop on Botafogo, although reports suggesting as much now seem a little bit wide of the mark.
Botafogo v U De Chile - Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2025
Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images
John Textor makes claim about Forest interest in Cuiabano
The left-back would be a useful signing for the Reds, with Neco Williams now the only available option on that side of the pitch, and he’s not naturally left-footed.
Alex Moreno has returned to Aston Villa, whilst Harry Toffolo has now left Forest after his three-year contract expired this summer.
John Textor is a man who has been befriended by Evangelos Marinakis, and he is also the owner of Botafogo as well as Lyon.
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Textor also has a share in Crystal Palace, and now he’s cleared up the uncertainty over the future of Cuiabano.
He told Globo: “There are only two players involved in the negotiations with Nottingham Forest.
“There are a lot of rumours about Cuiabano…Forest like him; they want him, but it’s just those two players for now.”
Forest need a left-back before the season begins
The Reds have been linked with Cuiabano for some time, with Brighton and Milan also thought to retain an interest in the defender.
It’s not clear whether or not he’s ready for a move to Europe just yet, with the player collecting seven yellow cards from just 23 appearances during the 2025 campaign.
Still, at 22-years-old, he looks like one for the future. With Williams likely to keep the position in the short term, he’d hopefully be able to settle in slowly but surely at Forest.
It sounds as though Textor is hoping for a bidding war with Cuiabano, and if that does become the case, the hope will be that Forest have some other irons in the fire too ahead of next season.