‘A dream’: £9m ace open to Nottingham Forest move, Fulham bid £6.5m

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Sao Paulo midfielder Pablo Maia admits that playing in Europe is a ‘dream’ as Premier League rivals Fulham and Nottingham Forest show interest in the £9 million-rated Brazilian, speaking to UOL. 

During what could be a ‘painful’ time for one of South America’s biggest clubs, a pessimistic Sao Paulo coach Rogerio Ceni admitted earlier this month that ‘six, seven or eight players will probably leave’ in the near future. 

One of those looks certain to be Luizao; the 20-year-old centre-back bound for West Ham United. The exciting Igor Gomes, like Luizao, will also depart when his contract expires. Marquinhos, meanwhile, has already joined Arsenal.

Whether Maia follows them out the door, however, only time will tell. 

Fulham and Nottingham Forest like Pablo Maia of Sao Paulo

According to Jorge Nicola, Marco Silva’s high-flying Fulham made a £6.5 million bid for the energetic 20-year-old recently. Big-spending Nottingham Forest are also interested. It remains to be seen whether either club are willing to splash out the £9 million required. 

But, while Maia was unwilling to confirm or deny Fulham’s approach, he did seemingly open the door to a move across the Atlantic in 2023.

“It’s a dream of mine to play in Europe,” he says. “But my family and representatives take care of that. I just focus on playing football.”

Nottingham Forest have already agreed to sign one Brazilian Serie A star ahead of January; Palmeira’s Golden Ball-winning assist-machine Gustavo Scarpa. Fulham, meanwhile, have enjoyed great success with two of Maia’s compatriots, Willian and Andreas Pereira playing key roles in the club’s excellent start to the current campaign. 

“Pablo Maia plays as the (deep-lying) midfielder. He gives security to our defence,” explains Sao Paulo chief Muricy Ramalho. “He has a good pass too. He’s not just about marking (opposition forwards).

“Nowadays, the midfielder has to play too, and he has a good pass. Of course, he does the simple things but he keeps the ball. He gives stability to Sao Paulo.”