Nottingham Forest made significant strides during the recent transfer window, bolstering their squad with talent from both domestic and international markets. While the club focused on acquiring players from outside England, they also managed to bring in individuals with Premier League pedigree.
Douglas Luiz, who previously found success at Aston Villa, made the move to Forest from Juventus. Youngster James McAtee, who showed promise at Manchester City, also joined the ranks at the City Ground. Deadline day saw the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko, adding further Premier League experience to the squad.
However, amidst Forest’s transfer activity, a former player nearly made a sensational return to the Premier League. Danilo, who departed Forest for Botafogo in a move that left fans feeling a mix of disappointment and understanding, was reportedly close to a swift comeback to English football.
Despite his limited playing time under Nuno Espírito Santo, Danilo’s impact during his time in the Premier League still resonated with many. Surprisingly, Botafogo rejected a substantial £26m offer from Fulham for the midfielder, citing a lack of time to secure a replacement as grounds for declining the bid.
Owner John Textor’s response on social media hinted at Danilo’s importance to Botafogo, emphasizing their admiration for the player and their reluctance to part ways with him so soon after his transfer. Textor’s communication also underscored the significance of his relationship with Evangelos Marinakis, which has facilitated multiple successful deals between Botafogo and Forest.
Danilo’s quick adaptation and impressive performances in Brazil suggest that he could attract further interest from Premier League clubs in the future. With his blend of talent and Premier League experience, it remains to be seen if teams, including Fulham, will reignite their interest in securing his services down the line.
