Vasco president calls Douglas Luiz return a ‘dream’ amid Nottingham Forest loan

Nottingham Forest remain in control of Douglas Luiz’s short-term future, with fresh comments from Brazil adding emotional context rather than altering the current picture.

Speaking to ESPN, Pedrinho, the president of Vasco da Gama, publicly admitted that re-signing Douglas Luiz remains a long-held ambition for the club. The midfielder is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest from Juventus, and his status in England continues to shape any realistic discussion about what comes next.

Pedrinho acknowledged the growing narrative around Douglas Luiz’s future, following reports in the Brazilian media suggesting the player would be open to a return to Vasco.

He said that many players want to come back to Vasco and that the club also wants them to return. Pedrinho explained that when a player has that desire, it helps, describing it as a good starting point, while stressing that it is still very much a dream and that Douglas Luiz is fully aware of that.

The Vasco president also confirmed that there has been informal communication between Douglas Luiz and club officials, though he was keen to temper expectations.

Pedrinho explained that deals of this nature are extremely difficult, pointing out that players who have developed in Europe naturally become harder to bring back to Brazil. His comments were framed as an expression of long-term hope rather than an indication of active negotiations.

From Vasco’s perspective, the comments underline sentiment and ambition — not a concrete plan.

For Nottingham Forest, the situation remains unchanged. Douglas Luiz is on loan from Juventus with an option to buy that is tied to a specific number of Premier League appearances, although the exact threshold has not been made public.

If that clause is triggered, Forest would be required to pay a fee in the region of £25.5m (€30m) to complete a permanent transfer. So far, the midfielder has featured sparingly, leaving Forest with a decision to make as the season progresses.

At this stage, Forest are still assessing whether Douglas Luiz fits their medium-term plans, both tactically and financially.

While comments from Brazil highlight Douglas Luiz’s strong emotional connection to Vasco, there is no indication that they place immediate pressure on Nottingham Forest or Juventus.

Instead, the remarks reinforce a familiar theme: a club iconically linked to his roots, balanced against the realities of European football contracts, valuations and competitive priorities.

Douglas Luiz’s future will be dictated by his role at Nottingham Forest over the coming months. Until appearance thresholds are met — or missed — discussions elsewhere remain theoretical. For now, Forest remain firmly in control of the situation.

Should Nottingham Forest push to make Douglas Luiz’s move permanent — or reassess his role before committing to a £25.5m deal?