Alious
Nottingham Forest’s South American recruitment has yielded varying degrees of success in recent years.
The most notable triumph has been Murillo, whose value has appreciated significantly from his initial £10.6 million transfer fee to an estimated £70 million, following his decision to choose Forest over Manchester City.
Similarly, Danilo, acquired for £16 million from Palmeiras, made valuable contributions during the 2022/23 season before experiencing an unfortunate ankle injury at the start of 2024/25.
Gustavo Scarpa’s case presents a more complex narrative. His acquisition was secured before Forest’s promotion via the Play-Off Final, though his arrival was scheduled for January 2023.
Scarpa joined the club with impressive credentials, having won the Golden Ball while leading Palmeiras to a league title.
However, his tenure at the City Ground was limited to just 10 appearances, hindered by a combination of injuries, personal circumstances, and competition for positions in the forward line.
Despite the brevity of his Forest career, Scarpa’s subsequent move to Atletico Mineiro in January 2024 has proven transformative.
His first season in Brazilian football demonstrated his true capabilities, with an impressive return of nine goals and twelve assists, albeit accompanied by ten yellow cards that highlighted his competitive nature.
Ian Wright’s assessment of Scarpa, particularly following a 2-0 victory against Leicester, highlighted the Brazilian’s potential. Wright specifically praised Scarpa’s effective partnership with Brennan Johnson and his ability to elevate his performance when surrounded by the team’s stronger players.
Throughout his time at Forest, Scarpa maintained a positive attitude and demonstrated commitment to the club, even though the Premier League ultimately proved challenging for him.
The conclusion of Scarpa’s Forest chapter, while not entirely successful in sporting terms, reflects the complexities of international player recruitment.
Now thriving back in Brazilian football at age 30, his story underscores how certain players may be better suited to particular footballing environments, despite their undoubted talent and professional approach.
Alious
