Nottingham Forest have yet to see Quibano play a single senior minute for themBut after his strong start at Vasco da Gama, the defender is now on the rise in Brazil.
Just yesterday we covered How the 23-year-old is thriving since arriving on loan. He has contributed five direct goals in his last four games and is developing into a key attacking outlet. That run included a standout performance against Grêmio, where he provided two assists.
All this after a strange start to his Forest career. Quibano joined the club, never featured, spent time at Botafogo on loan, returned to Nottingham Forest, and still did not play. He then moved to Vasco on loan again in January and left there.
Now, there is movement outside the pitch too.
Vasco president confirms willingness to sign Quibano
Quibano's performance has already sparked discussion about a permanent move, and now it has been addressed publicly.
Speaking this morning in brazilVasco president Pedrinho confirmed that the club is actively working towards purchasing players in this situation, including the Nottingham Forest loanee.
“All these players where we have the option to trigger a buyout clause, obviously, if they fit into our budget, we will do that,” He said.
He explained that Quibano is part of that plan, even if the financial structure needs to be carefully managed.
"Our wish is for that to happen. We're already structuring things in the best way in terms of budget, so we can make that happen."
However, in the case of Quibano there is a specific complication.
"Quibano's situation is a little more special, because his loan runs until the middle of the year and we need to exercise the option before then."
This issue of timing is closely linked to the way Brazilian football operates. Unlike the Premier League cycle, the domestic season follows a calendar-year model, running from January to December.
As a result, Vasco's financial picture for the full year generally only becomes clear by November or December, which limits their ability to commit early in the year.
Pedrinho also opened the door to an alternative solution if Vasco was not ready in time.
"If that doesn't happen, we will try to extend the loan until the end of the year to have more time for negotiations. But he is a player we want to sign if possible."
Marinakis' plan versus reality
It is not easy to say whether the situation is developing as Evangelos Marinakis had hoped, but it is certainly moving faster than expected.
The loan deal includes a purchase option worth approximately €10m (£8.6m). At the time, it looked like a way to protect value while giving minutes to the player.
Now, with Cuiabano continuing to perform and garner attention, that segment is becoming central to the next phase.
Nottingham Forest still have no internal assessment of him at senior level. Meanwhile, Vasco is building a case to keep him permanently.
Our opinion: The signings are clear for Nottingham Forest
Of course time will be important in this case. Vasco will have to decide whether to invoke the clause before the middle of the year or try to renegotiate the timeline. But the signals coming from Brazil are becoming increasingly strong.
Firstly, the president himself has now publicly stated that the club wants to sign Quibano. That alone turns the situation from background interest into something more concrete.
Furthermore, Vasco's financial condition is improving. The club has recently agreed its sale Ryan to Bournemouth €35m (£30m). This deal injects new money into their structure and increases the likelihood of being able to act on their purchase options.
Perhaps more importantly, there's a clear play factor to it. Cuiabano is playing regularly, making decisive contributions and has effectively secured a starting role. Reports also suggest that he is very happy in Rio de Janeiro.
All of this points to a scenario where Vasco tries hard to retain him, and where Quibano himself might prefer that outcome.
🇪🇸Juan Miranda | Not the right timing - Barcelona divulges why it rejected Nottingham Foresthttps://t.co/EapRsKKxRt #nffc
- Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 12 March 2026
