Scout Report: Danilo
Nottingham Forest completed the signing of young Brazilian midfielder, Danilo, this week, but who is the the 21-year-old? And what can he bring to the Premier League club?
Born Danilo dos Santos de Oliveira, but more commonly referred to as simply Danilo, the Brazilian began his career in his home city of Salvador, before bouncing around a few teams in his youth. He would get his break when he got a move to Palmeiras, and it’s famed youth system. Danilo initially started in the club’s under-17’s, but it wouldn’t be long before the midfielder made his way into the first team, playing regularly from just 19-years-old.
As Danilo began to play more and more for Palmeiras, the club began to have a seriously successful time on the pitch. In the last two years of his career in Brazil, the two years where he was an automatic start, the team won back-to-back Copa Libertadores’s.
During these two seasons, Danilo played over 100 games, scoring 11 goals in all competitions.
The player stand’s at 5’ 10, but despite this, has become a force in a defensive midfield role. Playing the majority of his career as part of a double pivot, he has grown into an impressive passing range, alongside having the pace to track opponent’s, winning the ball quickly and efficiently. His pace, and passing range, allows him to get out of congested midfield areas and pick out attacking players in a matter of simple moves.
Despite his lack of years within top-level football, Danilo’s Palmeiras teammate, Dudu, touted the player for European football when talking to ESPN Brazil last year.
“I always tell him, 'You have to play at Manchester United, at Arsenal. It’s at those clubs. But you have to be calm, you have to have your head in place. He’s a player who marks, who arrives in the attack, who builds play for the offensive midfielders, who helps in defending. For me, he is the complete player."
Danilo joins Forest on a six-and-a-half-year deal for around £16m. When speaking to the club, he expressed his delight at being able to play in the Premier League.
"I will show a lot of determination and a strong desire to win and will always look to do my best on the pitch to achieve positive results," said Danilo.
"I'm excited about getting started and meeting my new team-mates."
"I'm really happy to be fulfilling my dream of playing in the Premier League and playing for Nottingham Forest.
"I learnt a bit about the history of the club and saw they had won two European Cups."
Danilo is an exciting player, that can hopefully help Remo Freuler keep attackers away from the team’s defence. He can easily slot into Steve Cooper’s side and will most likely turn profit, as he grows at the City Ground.
