Nottingham Forest could see one potential route out for Cuiabano complicated by the same physical problems which have followed the defender since his move to England.
Vasco da Gama are still considering signing the 22-year-old permanently. The problem is that his injury record is making them think twice.
Pedro Cobalea has explained that Vasco’s board are very happy with Cuiabano from a technical point of view. Their doubts have little to do with what he can offer on the pitch.
Instead, they are looking closely at how often they can actually get him onto it.
Injuries giving Vasco something to think about
Cobalea says Cuiabano has suffered a series of minor physical problems during 2026, particularly muscular injuries.
Those issues have forced him to miss several matches and are now part of Vasco’s assessment before deciding whether to pursue a permanent transfer.
There’s otherwise plenty for them to like. Cuiabano has made 25 appearances for Vasco this season, scoring once and providing five assists. He has also established himself as their first-choice left-back when available.
The Brazilian club haven’t ruled out keeping him. In fact, Cobalea makes it clear the technical side of his performances has really pleased those in charge. It’s his physical record which leaves them with a decision to make.
That will sound very familiar. Cuiabano never actually made his competitive debut for Forest after arriving in England. Physical problems and a lack of fitness prevented him from getting onto the pitch during his time there.
His move back to Brazil gave him the chance to play regularly, but those concerns haven’t completely disappeared.
| Every Nottingham Forest signing 26/27 | Previous Club | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Liam Delap | Chelsea | £50m |
| Ousmane Diomande | Sporting CP | £34.3m |
| Daniel Muñoz | Crystal Palace | £22 m |
| Steven Benda | Feyenoord | Free Transfer |
| Xaver Schlager | RB Leipzig | Free Transfer |
| Gustavo Sá | Famalicão | Undisclosed |
Previous interest went nowhere
Back in July, we covered that Torino, Rennes and Strasbourg had all contacted Nottingham Forest and Cuiabano’s representatives.
The three clubs were doing their homework before potentially making an offer. They asked about possible transfer figures, his personality and even his numbers in training. And they specifically wanted information about his physical condition.
Ultimately, none of those approaches developed into a transfer before the European windows closed. We don’t know whether Cuiabano’s injury record played a part in that. Given what Vasco are now saying internally, though, it’s certainly a relevant detail.
Those clubs were asking questions about exactly the issue which is currently making Vasco hesitate. So that leaves Nottingham Forest with something of a recurring problem.
Completando a informação do Pedrosa sobre outros jogadores que estão emprestados ao Vasco: ao contrário da certeza em relação a Robert Renan, o Cruz-Maltino ainda avalia as contratações em definitivo de Carlos Cuesta e Cuiabano.
Cuesta começou a se firmar no time titular… https://t.co/63AwD7GpNK
— Pedro Cobalea (@pedrocobalea_) September 16, 2026
