£30m wonderkid & Brazil international: What Filippo Giraldi could bring to Nottingham Forest

Follow us on Google Discover

Earlier today, Nottingham Forest reacted to their poor form by hiring Filippo Giraldi as their new Director of Football at the City Ground.

Steve Cooper has earned a stay of execution as a show of loyalty from Evangelos Marinakis, despite the fact Nottingham Forest have suffered five Premier League defeats in a row, leaving them bottom of the table.

Giraldi is unlikely to change anything tactically, although his track record when it comes to recruitment is very impressive.

Let’s take a look at some of the Italian’s best signings during his nine-year stay at Watford…

Richarlison

Impressively, Giraldi plucked Richarlison from Fluminense when the striker was just 20 years of age.

The South American has since become one of the best forwards in the Premier League, earning a £60m move to Tottenham after starring for Everton on a regular basis.

Richarlison has also become Brazil’s No.9 on the international scene, and is expected to lead the line for his country at the World Cup.

Joao Pedro

Giraldi is clearly no stranger to South American football, as he unearthed another gem from Brazil when signing Joao Pedro – again from Fluminense.

The 48-year-old felt Pedro would be a good fit for English football, and he has since been proven right.

The 21-year-old has shone at Vicarage Road, with his efforts almost landing him a £30m move to Newcastle over the summer before the Magpies eventually signed Alexander Isak instead, according to The Times.

Abdoulaye Doucoure

Like Richarlison, Doucoure also left Watford for Everton in a big-money move after becoming one of the best in the Premier League during his time with the Hornets.

Giraldi initially pinched the French powerhouse from Rennes, and he has since gone on to amass 192 Premier League appearances across an eight-year stay in England’s top-flight.

If Giraldi can find some more diamonds of this ilk in January, Nottingham Forest will have a great chance of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.