Álvaro Montoro
Nottingham Forest’s attempts to sign Álvaro Montoro from Botafogo have now been blocked multiple times, with fresh legal developments in Brazil adding a new layer to the previously covered situation.
The Premier League club had been working on a deal for the Argentine attacking midfielder, alongside Danilo – a player already familiar to Forest after his spell at the club – as part of their growing links to John Textor’s network.
However, according to O Globo, those efforts have been repeatedly halted – first internally at Botafogo, and now by a court ruling in Rio de Janeiro.
Nottingham Forest’s interest also extended to Danilo, with both players part of a wider negotiation that had already advanced to defined figures.
Botafogo block and legal intervention
Danilo
Before any court involvement, Botafogo had already stepped in three times to stop Álvaro Montoro leaving.
The report explains that the club’s social arm intervened when Textor attempted to push through the transfer to Nottingham Forest. Those interventions came across both 2025 and 2026, signalling internal resistance to how the deal was being handled.
Now, the situation has escalated. A Rio court has ruled that Textor cannot sell Botafogo players without prior approval from the minority shareholder.
That decision was based on a failure to comply with earlier obligations. As a result, any outgoing transfer – including those involving Nottingham Forest – is effectively frozen unless the required approval is granted.
Textor has denied that the sales were closed to completion for the early 2026 window. Still, the repeated attempts suggest negotiations had progressed significantly behind the scenes.
Deal structure and Nottingham Forest involvement
Álvaro Montoro’s potential move to Nottingham Forest had already reached the stage of agreed pricing.
The attacking midfielder was set to leave for €14m (£12.1m), while Danilo’s move was valued at €19m (£16.4m). However, the structure of the deal complicates the picture.
Botafogo currently owe Forest €20m (£17.3m) from Danilo’s arrival in July 2025. Because of that, any outgoing transfers involving the same clubs would not generate the full headline fee.
In practice, the combined exits of Montoro and Danilo would have brought in only €13m (£11.2m). That significantly reduces the financial benefit for Botafogo and helps explain the internal resistance.
It is also worth noting that Danilo is currently enjoying a strong run of form in Brazil. The midfielder has been a key figure in recent matches and was included in Brazil’s latest squad, the final call-up before the World Cup list is confirmed.
Financial pressure and FIFA risk
Álvaro Montoro
Álvaro Montoro’s situation is also tied to Botafogo’s wider financial issues.
The Brazilian club still owe money to Vélez Sarsfield for his transfer. FIFA has already ruled against Botafogo after missed payments in August and December 2025.
That opens the door to a potential transfer ban if the debt is not settled. As a result, selling players remains a priority, even if specific deals have been blocked.
Inside the SAF, departures are still being considered. The Montoro and Danilo negotiations are not fully ruled out, despite the current legal restriction.
What happens next for Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest now find themselves waiting rather than negotiating, with no power to influence matters.
Their interest in Montoro remains clear, and the pricing suggests they see value in the deal. However, the legal ruling means any progress depends on internal approval at Botafogo.
At the same time, Forest have already signed players linked to Textor’s structure under unusual financial circumstances.
This latest case follows a similar pattern – complex negotiations, internal tensions, and shifting valuations.
🇬🇳 Amara Keïta | Nottingham Forest swoop for African wonderkid after Chelsea decision ➡️ Source explains situationhttps://t.co/pqpDB9l51o #nffc #cfc
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) March 18, 2026