Nottingham Forest new boy Jair Cunha insists he can’t wait to experience the City Ground in person for the first time after joining the Reds from Brazil outfit Botafogo. The 20-year-old penned a five-year contract at the City Ground last week following Fogo’s exit from the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this summer, where Jair helped the Brazilian side to a 1-0 win over finalists Paris Saint-Germain in the group phase.
Jair told us how excited and grateful he is for the opportunity to join the Club and progress his career at the City Ground.
“I feel great, really happy and grateful for this opportunity. I hope I can make a big contribution to the team and add a great deal so we can achieve many things together. It’s an indescribable feeling, I’m so happy.
“I’m really looking forward to it (experiencing the City Ground) and really excited about making my debut. I believe I’ve prepared very well for it here in Brazil and will be able to help the team in the best way possible.
“I’ve always been following Nottingham Forest online from the moment I found about the opportunity to come to the Club. I’ve been following them ever since and they’re clearly an incredible fanbase. I’m really looking forward to meeting them soon, when I make my debut.
“It’s a really good club, increasingly well-structured and organised. Constantly improving and establishing themselves in the Premier League achieving good league positions.
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“I think it’s a dream for every young player who starts out in Brazil to move to a European club in a great league. For me to have this opportunity at just 20 years old, to play in the best league in the world, is a wonderful feeling. I’m really happy to be joining Nottingham Forest.”
Jair’s career path is similar to another Forest defender, Murillo. The Forest no. 5 moved to NG2 when he was 21 years old and has since established himself in the Reds’ starting XI on a regular basis.
“Definitely, we young players are inspired by players like Murillo that move to Europe. I think he’s done brilliantly at Forest, player of the season in his first season. He’s a role model and reference not just with Forest but also the Brazilian National Team. I hope to follow in his footsteps.
“I haven’t had the chance to speak to them yet, but it will definitely be a big help having Brazilians in the squad.”