Nottingham Forest has added another Brazilian wonderkid to their transfer shortlist for next season.
Right now, you might think George Syrianos is playing a real-life version of Football Manager.
South American? Check. Wonderkid? Check. Under 21? Absolutely!
Last season, Forest secured Murillo for just £10.4 million, beating Manchester City to the young talent. Shortly after, they signed Andrey Santos on loan from Chelsea, though that deal didn’t pan out as expected.
In January, Forest brought in Giovanni Reyna, a renowned wonderkid in Football Manager, on loan. Again, that move didn’t work out, but a clear pattern is emerging in Forest’s transfer strategy.
Now, with the summer transfer window open, another wonderkid is on Forest’s radar.
Nottingham Forest Targets Brazilian Gem Riquelme
Forest is making waves in South America again. According to UOL, they have made a £2.5 million offer for Palmeiras striker Riquelme, with an additional £5 million in add-ons. They aim to outbid PSG and Porto for his signature. Palmeiras has yet to accept the deal, waiting to see if other clubs make firm offers.
If Riquelme moves to Forest, he would join Gustavo Scarpa and Danilo in making the switch from Palmeiras.
Who is Riquelme?
Riquelme Fillipi Marinho de Souza was born in Santo Andre in 2006. The 17-year-old, yet to play men’s football, would be a future prospect for Forest. He plays as a winger for Palmeiras’ under-20 team, making 14 appearances, scoring four goals, and providing one assist in the 2023/24 season.
Newcastle previously courted the talented wonderkid but hasn’t made a bid yet. Riquelme would arrive at Forest as an exciting yet relatively unknown quantity, reflecting the club’s commitment to nurturing young talent.