Defender believes Nottingham Forest transfer blocked due to FFP

Nottingham Forest once stood close to signing Otávio, but Financial Fair Play concerns ultimately blocked the move, according to the Brazilian defender himself.

In an exclusive interview with Brazilian outlet Trivela, Otávio explained that Nottingham Forest were the Premier League club involved when he was preparing to leave Flamengo. However, the deal stalled because the English side had already completed several signings and risked breaching FFP limits by adding another player.

“There was another proposal. But I think the club had already signed many players at the time, which was Nottingham Forest,” he revealed. “And if they signed one more, I think they would lose points because of financial fair play.”

He also made his past intentions very clear. “I preferred to go to the Premier League, but as Porto was more certain and is a very big club, I went there”, he said. “The Champions League, which I played with them, showed me to the whole world. It was the club that gave me an opportunity.”

Nottingham Forest failure meant FC Porto move

With the Nottingham Forest route closed, Otávio accepted an approach from FC Porto, a move that quickly reshaped his career. He secured a starting role, gained Champions League exposure and established himself in European football. That’s something he admits was decisive after a difficult period in Brazil.

Now at Paris FC, Otávio has returned to the spotlight. He recently impressed in a historic French Cup win over Paris Saint-Germain and believes French football mirrors the physical intensity of the Premier League.

Under contract until 2030, Otávio sees Paris FC’s project as ambitious. Even so, his comments confirm that Nottingham Forest were once his preferred destination. Unfortunately FFP restrictions, or PSR as now known in the UK, changed the course of his career. Maybe in another time.