‘Best in the world’: 28-year-old says he’ll join Nottingham Forest in January

Follow us on Google Discover

Gustavo Scarpa has confirmed his move to Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest for the first time, telling ESPN that Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira has given a City Ground switch his seal of approval. 

Information regarding Scarpa’s potential January switch to the East Midlands has been slow in arriving. But, three weeks after Palmeiras themselves admitted that the World Cup hopeful had signed a pre-contract agreement with Nottingham Forest, Scarpa has broken his silence at last. 

The two-time Copa Libertadores winner is due to become a free-agent in December. He was initially offered the chance to join Greek giants Olympiacos but, after discussing his future with Ferreira, opted for another club under the Evangelos Marinakis umbrella. 

Palmeiras ace Gustavo Scarpa confirms Nottingham Forest move

“I had a conversation with (Ferreira),” Scarpa explains. “Because, at first, the offer was to play for Olympiacos. To play in the Champions League. They ended up not qualifying.  

“I called Abel, I wanted his help to facilitate (my) exit. Of course, my dream was not to play in Greece. But if I played well (at Olympiacos), it could serve as a gateway to the bigger leagues.

“(Ferreira) said: ‘don’t go to Greece, it’s not your place. But you can go to England’. When the question of Nottingham Forest came up directly, he said: ‘it’s the best league in the world’.” 

Scarpa is due to become Forest’s 26^th new signing since sealing promotion to the Premier League in May. The 28-year-old is one of the most in-form footballers the other side of the Atlantic; a tally of 11 goals and 11 assists this season keeping him in contention for a spot in Brazil’s World Cup squad. 

“I really like Scarpa,” Selecao coach Tite tells UOL. “He was called up when he was at Fluminense (in 2017). He has a creative ability, plays with mobility. He’s a very good player.”

Interestingly, two of Nottingham Forest’s 25 summer signings are currently on loan at Olympiacos; former Blackpool talisman Josh Bowler and South Korean striker Hwang Ui-Jo.