Cuiabano says goodbye at Botafogo as Nottingham Forest move nears

Nottingham Forest appear ready to welcome Cuiabano at last, after the left-back delivered an emotional farewell message to Botafogo teammates and staff that all but confirmed his time in Rio is over. The 23-year-old has enjoyed a breakout two-year spell in Brazil, but with Forest owning 70% of his rights and having planned a January arrival since mid-2025, every indication now suggests he will report to England as expected.

Earlier this week, reports in Brazil hinted at discussions over a possible second loan extension — but Cuiabano’s goodbye speech, shared across Botafogo’s social channels, felt definitive. Thanking colleagues for “the past two years” and jokingly apologising for “any jokes they didn’t like”, the defender spoke with the tone of someone closing a chapter, not preparing for another season in black and white.

Asked directly about his future, the player kept his cards close to his chest but offered no reason to believe he would remain in Brazil.

“This answer I can’t give, because I still don’t know,” he told local media. “I have a contract until the 31st. Now it’s time to rest and think afterwards.”

Despite this diplomatic stance, the mood around Botafogo — and within Nottingham Forest’s recruitment team — is that this is goodbye rather than negotiation. Cuiabano has also been open in past interviews about wanting his chance in Europe, and the timing now feels right.

As highlighted by Bolavip, Cuiabano’s numbers this season underline why Forest invested early. After registering eight goal contributions in 2024, he produced 11 in 2025, a 37.5% increase, becoming one of Botafogo’s most reliable offensive creators down the left flank. The season ended without silverware, but his personal progress was significant, elevating him into the conversation among Brazil’s most improved full-backs.

Forest’s intention has always been to develop a succession plan at left-back, and Cuiabano’s athletic profile — aggressive overlaps, final-third productivity, and improving defensive discipline — makes him a natural fit for the Premier League. With Sean Dyche now leading the squad, his arrival could add a dynamic threat in a position Dyche has long relied upon for balance and directness.

In our view, the Cuiabano to Nottingham Forest narrative highlights a rare blend of timing and opportunity. Although some supporters may see him as a relatively unknown addition, the nuance is that Forest have secured a player on an upward curve, with clear developmental headroom and a style suited to Premier League intensity.

From my experience covering South American full-backs moving to Europe, players who show rapid year-on-year improvement tend to transition successfully. Cuiabano’s expanded output in 2025 isn’t accidental — it reflects tactical maturity and improved decision-making.

A balanced counterpoint: stepping from the Brasileirão into Dyche’s system will demand defensive discipline that is not always prioritised in Brazil. But Forest have signed him early enough to mould him into a long-term solution rather than a short-term gamble.

Cuiabano is expected to rest briefly before travelling to England, where Forest will begin integrating him into the squad ahead of the second half of the Premier League season. His arrival could offer Dyche fresh tactical flexibility as the club push to stabilise their campaign.

👉 Forest fans — will Cuiabano become the long-term left-back the club have been missing?