Danilo dos Santos de Oliveira, popularly known as Danilo, has made a strong impact at Nottingham Forest since his move from Palmeiras in the January transfer window. Prior to joining Forest, the young Brazilian caught the attention of clubs such as Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal. In his ten appearances for Forest, Danilo has become a regular in Steve Cooper's squad, contributing two goals and one assist.
Danilo's first goal for the Reds came in their 3-1 victory over Brighton, and he was quick to credit his teammates and the fans for their support. "It was very important. Firstly I have to thank God, my teammates, especially the Brazilians - Renan, Felipe and Scarpa who have been a great help since I came here. All I've got is gratitude for the support given by the team, and the fans, I'm over the moon [to score his first goal]."
Danilo's former Palmeiras teammate Dudu has previously praised the midfielder, calling him a "complete" player and touting him for success at top Premier League clubs such as Manchester United and Arsenal. Danilo's impressive performances and skills on and off the ball have made him a sought-after player in Europe.
The Brazilian has a tall frame but is able to retrieve possession without going to ground, using his agility to dribble and turn out of trouble in a congested midfield. Danilo is also known for his impressive passing range and ability to pick out forward runs by teammates with sweeping diagonal switches of play.
While he typically played in a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 formation at Palmeiras, there is little doubt that Danilo can adapt to Steve Cooper's preferred 4-3-1-2 set-up at Forest. With his growing confidence and impact on the team, Danilo is poised to make even greater contributions to the club in the future.