Fluminense’s president has confirmed Nottingham Forest’s interest in defender Nino with the Copa Libertadores-winning captain turning down Middle Eastern offers to fulfil his Premier League dream.
As things stand, all the signs suggest that Nino will be Nottingham Forest’s first signing of the January window.
In fact, a deal could be agreed long before the fireworks are lighting up the New Years’ Day sky, Globo Esporte claiming that Steve Cooper’s side are triggering the £6 million release clause in Nino’s Fluminense contract while making his Premier League dream a reality.
Nino nears Nottingham Forest move
“Nino has been at the club for almost five years. We have to understand that it is the player’s dream to play in Europe, and he deserves it,” La Flu president Mario Bittencourt tells the Charla podcast.
“Nino had several offers over time. He had one from the Middle East, which was good for Fluminense. He came into my office and said; ‘President, I don’t want to play in the Middle East. It’s my family’s decision. I want to play in Europe.’
“And I said it was case closed.”
Nino captained Fluminense to their first ever Copa Libertadores title last week, defeating Boca Juniors 2-1 in a frantic finale. He, alongside team-mates Andre Trindade and Jhon Arias, could be on their way across the Atlantic over the coming weeks, Bittencourt confirming reports suggesting that Nottingham Forest are at the front of the queue for his long-serving centre-half.
Copa Libertadores winning captain set for England
“His contract ends at the end of 2024,” the Fluminense chief adds. “I said; ‘What if I made you an offer to sign another five-year contract, increasing your salary?’.
“And Nino told me; ‘President, I’m going to come back to play here one day. But I need to fulfil my family’s dream of living in Europe, playing in a big league. If possible, in the English league, which is my priority’.”
“I will fulfil what I agreed with the guy. It is a done deal? No. What arrived first was Nottingham Forest. But I don’t know. If the guy changes his mind and he wants to stay…”
Nino could form an all-Brazilian partnership with the exciting Murillo at the City Ground.
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