Nottingham Forest have reached an agreement with Vasco da Gama over Cuiabano, just days after reports from Brazil said the player had ruled out a return to the country.
According to Brazilian journalist Venê Casagrande, Vasco have closed a deal with Forest for a loan with an option to buy. The agreement includes a €1m loan fee, plus a €10m purchase option. Cuiabano is now waiting for clearance to travel to Rio de Janeiro and present himself to the club.
The timing is striking. Only recently, sources quoted by ESPN stated that Cuiabano did not want to return to Brazil and preferred to remain in Europe, even if that meant leaving Forest to find space at another European club. That stance appeared to close the Brazilian chapter altogether.
This latest development strongly suggests a shift behind the scenes. The most likely explanation is that Cuiabano was informed he would not feature in Nottingham Forest’s plans for the remainder of the season, opening the door for a return to Brazil under the right conditions.
That context helps explain the change in direction. Rather than holding out for an uncertain European move, the player has now accepted Vasco’s proposal, which offers immediate minutes, a clear sporting role and a defined pathway through the option-to-buy clause.
From Forest’s perspective, the deal also fits their long-standing position. The club set a sell-only stance, resisted Brazilian loan approaches for weeks and ultimately secured a structure that preserves value through a significant purchase option.
In short, what looked like a firm “no” to Brazil has quickly turned into a negotiated exit. Once Forest’s plans became clear, Cuiabano’s situation followed suit, bringing an abrupt end to another weird saga involving Marinakis.