John Textor finally tried to explain the outgoing moves to Nottingham Forest that stirred frustration in Brazil.
The owner spoke at length to Botafogo reporters and influencers and used the clearest examples of how the partnership with Evangelos Marinakis shapes transfers involving the Premier League.
He admitted that the process does not always deliver competitive balance on the pitch. Still, he said the long-term plan makes sense for both sides of the ownership structure.
He also said the pathway to England is a key part of his project. It also explains why some deals look painful for supporters. Textor argued that offering Premier League moves strengthens the club’s reputation and creates leverage for future recruitment.
And he addressed each one of them.
John Victor
Textor used the arrival of John at Nottingham Forest to reinforce this point. He stressed that the goalkeeper wanted the Premier League move and that Botafogo felt obliged to honour the promise.
He said: “He had the chance to go to the Premier League. We want him to stay, but it means a lot that Botafogo can give these players the opportunity to play in the best league in the world.”
He again referenced Marinakis, describing the partnership as central to the deal. According to him, it feels “incredible” to turn on the TV and watch Forest starting players who were recently at Botafogo. He framed it as a sign of progress.
He also said that giving that platform helps attract new talent. “If we give players the opportunity to play in top leagues, more players will want to come. Sometimes we get stronger. Sometimes we get weaker. We will not always get it right.”
Igor Jesus
The move involving Igor Jesus was more complex. Textor repeated that Botafogo received only one concrete bid, from Ipswich Town.
He said: “We only had one offer, from Ipswich, and he did not want to leave.” He accepted that the price now looks small, because the striker has impressed in England. But he defended the valuation by pointing to the medical risk.
“He arrived with no transfer cost because he had two serious knee injuries.” He said clubs hesitated after analysing the scans. “You feel stupid when he becomes the best player on the pitch against Liverpool. But his injury history was the main reason we did not receive more.”
Textor compared the situation with Danilo, who also had significant injury markers in his medical reports. He argued that these cases show how risk shapes price, even when the player performs at a high level later.
Jair Cunha
The case of Jair followed another route. Textor said the midfielder was identified jointly with Marinakis. “We scouted Jair together. The idea was: come to Botafogo and, when ready, you can go to the Premier League.” He stressed that negotiations for Jair and Igor Jesus progressed at the same time, and that the discussions were aligned across both ownership groups.
Textor’s explanation aimed to ease pressure at home. Yet it also highlights how Forest’s recruitment, supported by the Marinakis–Textor link, has become a sensitive subject.
What comes next for this channel of transfers, and how it will shape future moves to Nottingham Forest, remains open.
