When it became clear that Nottingham Forest signing three players from Botafogo was a transfer deal genuinely on the cards, it was inevitable the potential moves wouldn’t go down well with everyone.
In Brazil it’s reported as a deal built between the major characters of the two clubs, Evangelos Marinakis and John Textor. Earlier today we covered a report from Brazil which explained the two businessmen became good friends last year and have been chatting about transfers and investment opportunities in Brazilian football since.
That is behind the potential triple move of Igor Jesus, Jair Cunha and Cuiabano.
For some in Brazil, and especially around Botafogo, this all seems to be about trading and not what is best on the pitch for the club.
TV pundit André Loffredo has now spoken out against the situation, with part of his annoyance being that he doesn’t think Nottingham Forest is the right club for all the players.
Fogaonet quote him explaining Textor bought these players just to sell them: “That’s exactly what Jair was supposed to do, guys. He played 16 games, which was a lot, because when he arrived he wasn’t supposed to play even that much, because the starting defence was already formed and he was going to be sold in this transfer window.
“John Textor hired Jair to do business and he did. That was the first thing he did, as soon as he had the opportunity. He also managed to get Cuiabano, developed Cuiabano to the point of doing business. And Igor Jesus had some sporting results.
“Well, now I think the deal is good for Textor, but bad for Botafogo. For Textor, for the holding company, the deal must be good. Bad for the players too. I think the players are going to a modest club, with development difficulties. Salary, I don’t know, it must be interesting. Oh, and good for the agents too. For the agents, I have no doubt.”
Hopefully it can turn out well for the players, and at least one may be sent on a loan move away from Nottingham Forest.
How Botafogo fans will react to Textor pulling off this plan, should he do so, remains to be seen.
