Nottingham Forest reject Jair Cunha loan move amid growing Brazil interest

Nottingham Forest have reportedly rejected an approach from São Paulo for defender Jair Cunha, offering the clearest indication yet that the Brazilian remains part of the club's long-term plans.

The 20-year-old has attracted growing interest from his homeland in recent months, with several Brazilian clubs exploring the possibility of bringing him back. However, despite limited playing time during his first season in England, Forest appear reluctant to sanction a temporary departure.

According to reports from Brazil, São Paulo recently investigated the possibility of signing Jair Cunha on loan but quickly discovered that Nottingham Forest had no interest in pursuing a deal under those terms.

Interest in Jair Cunha has been steadily building throughout the year.

Brazilian giants Flamengo and Botafogo have both been linked with the defender, while Cruzeiro recently emerged as another potential destination.

Most of those enquiries appeared exploratory. The São Paulo approach, however, reportedly progressed far enough to provide a clearer understanding of Forest's position.

Rather than opening discussions, the Premier League club immediately ruled out the possibility of a loan agreement, causing negotiations to end before they could properly develop.

That response suggests Forest continue to view the defender as an important development project despite his limited involvement this season.

Jair Cunha's opportunities were initially restricted following his arrival from Botafogo.

The young centre-back spent much of the first half of the season on the fringes of the squad as he adapted to English football and competed for places in a demanding defensive unit.

However, circumstances changed dramatically during the second half of the campaign.

Injuries, squad rotation and Nottingham Forest's extended Europa League run created additional opportunities for players outside the regular starting XI.

As fixtures accumulated, manager Vítor Pereira increasingly turned to Jair Cunha as a squad option, allowing the defender to gain valuable first-team experience.

Having covered Forest's European campaign throughout the season, the club's willingness to trust younger squad players during demanding periods became a notable feature of Pereira's management. Jair Cunha was among the players who benefited most from that approach.