Nottingham Forest: How the City Ground became a top destination for Brazilian talent

Until 2022, Nottingham Forest had only one Brazilian in its 160-year history — striker Leo Bonatini, who joined in 2019. Since then, 11 more Brazilians have arrived, including the latest signings Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha, both from Botafogo.

But why the sudden influx of Brazilian players?

How Nottingham Forest attracts so many Brazilians

In recent years, players such as Danilo, Murillo and Gustavo Scarpa have made the jump straight from the Brasileiro to the Premier League without prior European experience, kicking off this trend at Forest.

Carlos Miguel, former Corinthians goalkeeper, joined last season, and now it is Igor Jesus’s turn following his move from Botafogo after the Club World Cup.

Nottingham Forest employs a dedicated professional based in Brazil who represents the club on the ground. This scout is primarily responsible for scouting and recruitment activities. In some cases, they also take part in negotiations with players from the country. Their routine involves attending Brazilian stadiums to watch young talents in person.

Forest is not unique in scouting Brazil, but their approach differs from other Premier League clubs. Big Six teams maintain long-term scouting staff in Brazil who compile reports over years, tracking prospects through smaller leagues or clubs before signing them on second or third transfers.

However, Forest plans to expand its Brazilian scouting team in 2025, aiming to cover not only Brazil but wider Latin America as well.

Forest is different from the competition: the club has preferred to approach the player already in the Brasileirao for a direct transfer. This has happened more often with other clubs recently, such as the youngsters who have gone to Chelsea, but it is a slow movement.

Another Brazil call-up for our Murillo. ?? pic.twitter.com/xBK3oDvSFJ

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) March 6, 2025

Do Forest only scout from Brazil?

The professional based in Brazil does not just cover the Brasileirao. Their scouting extends to almost all of Latin America, but there are clear priorities.

"The most important market is the Brazilian one, without a doubt. Then Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia... But first Brazil," the source said.

The focus on Brazilian football exists because there is still a perception that Brazil produces better talent, on average, compared to its continental neighbours. The classic argument of Brazilian skill and improvisation remains highly regarded, as the report found.

"They (Brazilian players) are still different in dealing with the ball. And if the talented player can't play abroad, it's more the coach's problem than the player's.

How Forest sign a player from the Brasileiro

The process usually starts in the stadiums, in person. Players who stand out are monitored and analysed for both individual and collective behaviour. Then, the Brazil-based professional prepares several reports, along with formal and informal conversations, until a concrete offer is made.

The professional revealed that, unlike some colleagues, he does not like to take many notes during games. He prefers to analyse the players’ behaviours to get a broader view. The idea is not just to follow a player individually without losing sight of the bigger picture — which could take some situations out of context.

"I like to see how the player behaves in relation to what he does and the collective. How does he react if his teammate loses the ball? When another player makes a mistake? What if he himself gets yellow? This is very important," he revealed.

Reports are then written after the match, a standard procedure not limited to Forest. The document includes basic information about the target player: name, position, dominant foot, characteristics, highlights, and areas for improvement with and without the ball.

These reports include psychological, physical, and morphological information. There are different approaches: for young prospects, if the player has a certain body type that the club believes will develop in the future, the analysis overlooks how strong or muscular the player is at the moment, for example.

For young prospects, in the eyes of these professionals, the most important thing is ball handling. Their technique, creativity, and ability to get out of tight spots without prior instruction are the main points of observation.

What happens after scouting?

When a player is identified as a good fit for Nottingham Forest, the Brazil-based professional passes the name to colleagues in the scouting department in England. Their reports are shared, and the English scouts also prepare their own reports.

Once everyone — scouts in Brazil, in Nottingham, the coach, and management — reaches a consensus, the player becomes a target for the club. The process then returns to the Brazil-based professional, who is responsible for making the first contact with the player and their agent. It is at this stage that Nottingham Forest’s interest in signing the player is revealed.

With the agent, the details of the sporting project the club can offer are explained, even if only at an early stage. This is a very initial but common procedure, and players receive this kind of contact fairly often.

With a positive response from both player and agent, the Brazil-based professional reports back to Forest’s management to start negotiations — and steps out of the conversation.

In Nottingham Forest’s case, president Tom Cartledge usually leads negotiations. Board members and owner Evangelos Marinakis also often participate in the process.

On the other hand, even after all this, it’s just the beginning of negotiations — no agreement has been reached yet. The report found that many players are dazzled by the club’s interest and misinterpret the conversations, thinking they are already being signed. This can cause friction with their current club in Brazil and end negotiations.

Why choose Forest over other Premier League clubs?

Usually, Big Six clubs are the ones that most attract young players wanting to go to the Premier League. On the other hand, Forest understands its position in the market and ends up having an advantage.

The club’s main idea is to offer a gateway to European football for young stars. Instead of first moving to the Italian or Spanish leagues and only then making their way to England, Forest presents itself as a direct route into the Premier League — closer to the giants that young players dream of joining.

According to the report, the plan shown to players is that starting their European career in the English league can be more beneficial for their development. This way, they get used to the pace of the game, the country, and the language. But Forest, of course, also benefits.

The club’s focus when signing young stars is also on potential profit from future sales. Management and the scouting team think about the financial aspect in the medium and long term, since for now, they cannot offer players the chance to compete for titles.

This could change soon, though. Last season, Forest actively fought for a Champions League spot and spent much of the campaign among the top three. Next season, they will compete in the Conference League.

This article was originally published on Trivela.