Nottingham Forest are closing in on the signing of Corinthians goalkeeper Carlos Miguel and the Brazilian will be part of the Premier League side’s first-team squad next season.
EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC understands that, after weeks of speculation, Nottingham Forest are finally nearing a deal for a man who’s future has become something of a saga over in South America.
Carlos Miguel, the 6ft 8ins goalkeeper who would become one of the tallest footballers in Premier League history, is expected to arrive at the City Ground sooner rather than later.
Miguel will also be part of Nottingham Forest’s first-team squad in 2024/25, rather than being farmed out on loan.
Nuno Espirito Santo, meanwhile, will be hoping that his fellow Portuguese speaker can finally be a long-term solution to Forest’s issues between the sticks. Since their promotion back to the Premier League in 2022, Dean Henderson, Keylor Navas, Matt Turner, Odysseas Vlachodimos and Matz Sels have had spells as the club’s number one without ever really making the jersey their own.
Nottingham Forest close in on Carlos Miguel
25-year-old Miguel has faced plenty of criticism over in Brazil recently. Much to the frustration of the Corinthians bosses, his release clause was reduced from £42 million to just £3.5 million at the turn of the year due to a quirk in his contract.
Corinthians president Augusto Meto admitted that the club had been left ‘scared’ by the situation. They had been ‘reassured that everything would be OK’ before discussions a new deal took a turn for the worst.
Miguel, formerly of Internacional and Flamengo, may now have played his final game for Corinthians too. The rangy glovesman was left out of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Athletico Paranaense.
Coach Antonio Oliveira spoke about the situation after the game, suggesting that Miguel would not be considered for first-team duties after reportedly accepting Nottingham Forest’s proposal, via UOL.
“Some (of the players who did not feature on Sunday) are injured. Who are part of the group and are committed to this cause,” Oliveira said, via MeuTimao.
“Once again, I say that whoever wants to play here and who has passion and pride in representing this club, plays here. If you don’t want to, there’s no need.
“Carlos Miguel no longer plays for Corinthians. (His attitude) bothers me, and action will be taken.”
Goalkeeper left out by Corinthians
Matheus Donelli has stepped in for Miguel during the last two matchdays. In that Athletico draw and during the 1-0 defeat by Internacional which his fellow goalkeeper missed through suspension.
Donelli, meanwhile, sees Miguel’s likely departure to England’s East Midlands as ‘an opportunity’ to establish himself as Corinthians new first-choice.
“If there are players who don’t want to be here, that is their individual decision,” Matheus Donelli explains, via MeuTimao. “But I see it as an opportunity.
“On top of this responsibility, there is a great opportunity to change our history. Me, my family and all the kids around are seeing it that way.”
It appears likely that Nottingham Forest will have to move on at least one of Turner, Vlachodimos or Sels once Miguel arrives. Sels feels the likeliest to stick around. The one-time Newcastle United man only joined in January from Strasbourg and immediately moved ahead of both Turner and Vlachodimos in Nuno’s pecking order.
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