Arsenal and Manchester United may be chasing Danilo now, but the midfielder’s latest comments show just how close his Nottingham Forest career came to taking a very different path.
The Botafogo star has become one of the most talked-about players in Brazil ahead of the World Cup.
After producing 11 goals and 3 assists in 26 appearances for club and country in 2026, he is expected to leave Botafogo after the tournament, with several other European clubs keeping a close eye on the situation. Newcastle is one of them too.
Yet Danilo admits none of this felt likely not so long ago.
Nottingham Forest setback changed everything
The midfielder spoke openly about his difficult period at Nottingham Forest and the serious ankle injury that altered the course of his career.
“It was a difficult period. Breaking my ankle and watching an entire season pass because of injury, then coming back and not getting a run of games… Those were things that helped me a lot mentally and made me stronger.”
“I knew I had a World Cup to play for and that I needed minutes and preparation. That helped me produce the performances I’ve shown at Botafogo and with the national team. The culture in England helped strengthen me as well.”
Danilo’s comments reinforce the feeling that his problems at Forest were not about ability as much as circumstances. A serious injury arrived at the worst possible moment and, from there, he struggled to recover his place.
“I didn’t want to return to Brazil”
Danilo also revealed that leaving England was never part of the original plan.
“It was very difficult. I have the age to be in Europe, but my serious injury made me lose my place at Nottingham.”
“At first, I didn’t want to return to Brazil. I wanted to turn things around and shine, but this is football and there are things you can’t control.”
The midfielder admitted he had doubts when he returned home.
“I came back worried that I hadn’t made the right decision. It was a project built around the World Cup and then I suffered more injuries that got in the way.”
“The fear I had beforehand became reality because I wasn’t being called up and I couldn’t get a run of games. But from January onwards I managed to get back to my best physically and mentally and show my football.”
That recovery has transformed his situation. What looked like a step backwards is now taking him to a World Cup and potentially back to the Premier League.
“That step backwards ended up becoming two or more steps forwards.”
From winger to World Cup midfielder
Danilo also explained how his position change years ago helped shape the player Arsenal and Manchester United are now monitoring.
Today he describes himself as a midfielder capable of performing multiple roles.
“Nowadays, when a player is box-to-box it makes everything easier for teammates and for the coach.”
“I can play as a No. 5, an No. 8 and even as a No. 10. I can defend, attack and go box-to-box. That helps me a lot.”
The versatility comes from his youth career.
“I always played as a No. 10 or as an inverted winger in the Bahia academy.”
The switch into midfield happened during a youth tournament in the Czech Republic, and it came with a very simple instruction.
“When they moved me into midfield, they told me to take only two touches.”
“Gilmey Aymberê, who was an assistant coach with Palmeiras Under-20s, told me: ‘I know you’re a winger and you like to dribble, but there is no dribbling in midfield.'”
Danilo ignored the advice almost immediately.
“I came on in the second half and with the first ball I got, I tried to dribble past two players and lost possession”, he said. “He went crazy on the bench.”
The lesson eventually stuck.
“They gave me an opportunity in midfield even though I had never played there before. I had some slowness over the first five metres and we worked on that. Over time it helped me a lot.”
“After that tournament I returned to the Under-20 team with a different status and much more confidence.”
That confidence is now taking him to the World Cup – and perhaps back to England, where Arsenal and Manchester United are among the clubs watching closely.