Gustavo Sá has left Famalicão’s pre-season training camp as he closes in on completing his move to Nottingham Forest.
According to Record, O Jogo and A Bola, the 21-year-old midfielder has departed the Portuguese club’s base in Como, Italy. He has travelled to the Algarve, where Nottingham Forest are holding their pre-season camp.
The Portugal Under-21 international is expected to undergo his medical before signing a long-term contract with the Premier League club. This will be in a deal worth €20m (£17.3m).
Once the transfer is completed, he is expected to spend at least half the season on loan at Olympiacos. Of course, the Greek club and Nottingham Forest are both owned by Evangelos Marinakis. This is just another move that fits into the group’s multi-club model.
Finally on the move
After days of uncertainty over his future, Gustavo Sá has now officially left Famalicão’s squad. He is on his way to join Nottingham Forest’s camp. There, the remaining formalities are expected to be completed over the coming hours.
The move also resolves a transfer saga that had appeared to be heading to West London earlier this month. However, Forest stepped in and reached an agreement with Famalicão.
For the Portuguese club, the €20m (£17.3m) fee represents one of the biggest deals in their history. Meanwhile, Forest secure one of Portugal’s most highly rated young midfielders.
They immediately give him the opportunity to continue his development with regular football at Olympiacos.
What Forest are getting
In short, Gustavo Sá is an attacking midfielder who can also drop deeper to help build play. At 1.89m, he offers more physical presence than the typical number ten. Additionally, his passing and movement allow him to connect midfield and attack.
He is more of an organiser than a dribbler or prolific goalscorer. Sá reads the game well, handles pressure calmly and can play as the most advanced midfielder in a three or behind the striker.
His leadership is another major part of his profile. Despite being only 21, he was already Famalicão’s captain and one of the team’s main references. The Portuguese club finished fifth last season, their best league position this century, with Sá playing a major role in that achievement.
That combination of technical quality, versatility and maturity helps explain why Nottingham Forest are prepared to invest in him. A spell at Olympiacos should give him regular football before Forest assess whether he is ready for the demands of English football.
