Botafogo have initiated talks to sign midfielder Danilo, who is on Nottingham Forest’s exit list ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The information was shared by journalist Jorge Nicola and further detailed in reports from the Brazilian press.
As previously reported, the 24-year-old is no longer in Forest’s plans and has been made available for €25m, approximately £21m.
He is said to be unhappy with his lack of playing time in the Premier League and would consider a return to Brazil as a way to gain more visibility, including for future international call-ups.
Botafogo are the only Brazilian club to have made contact with the player’s representatives so far. According to Nicola, the Rio-based side are prioritising the signing of a defensive midfielder who can also contribute going forward. Danilo fits that profile and is considered a key target.
This is not the first time John Textor has attempted to sign the former Palmeiras talent. While at Lyon, he pushed for a £20m deal, but financial and regulatory restrictions prevented it from going through.
According to another report from UOL Esporte, Textor now sees Botafogo as his main operational focus and has been personally involved in the negotiations, with his presence in Brazil expected to support the process.
The strong relationship between Textor and Nottingham Forest, recently reinforced by the sales of Igor Jesus and Jair, could also help facilitate the talks.
Meanwhile, as we covered earlier, Forest have already started working on a replacement for Danilo, with CF Monterrey’s Nelson Deossa identified as a potential signing.
What comes next will depend on whether Botafogo are ready and able to meet Forest’s valuation.
