Fluminense may not yet be confirming that Nino will soon be on his way to Nottingham Forest, but they do admit that there are talks going on.
This time, club president Mario Bittencourt was interviewed by TNT Sports, and asked about the transfers that are expected following the Copa Libertadores title.
First of all, the club chief confirmed that Nino is one of the players who should leave in the next transfer window.
“The tendency is for Nino and André to leave in January. But we’ll be looking for reinforcements to match, and we have a very strong youth academy,” Bittencourt told TNT Sports.
Then he was asked about Nottingham Forest’s interest in the centre-back. He confirmed the Reds’ approach, and claimed that the talks should start developing in a few weeks.
“I think things will really start moving after the Club World Cup. Until then, negotiations will be very much a case of offer here, counter-offer there. In relation to any player.”
Fluminense are now very much focused on the Club World Cup, which is being played in December, so the president is repeatedly making it clear that all their stars will stay until then. Not all Brazilians know how the European window works, so he makes sure to guarantee that.
There’s hope the Tricolor will have a final against Manchester City in that tournament, and the title is a big thing for South Americans.
That’s why Nino’s transfer to Nottingham Forest may only be confirmed around Christmas, despite how advanced the talks may be.
Now the hope would be that no other club tries to snatch him away.
