Nottingham Forest’s decision to sign Igor Jesus is looking smarter by the week, as his former club Botafogo continue to falter in attack without him.
According to a report from Globo Esporte, the Rio de Janeiro outfit have scored just one goal in their last four league games, underlining how much they miss their former striker’s presence up front.
Since Igor Jesus departed following the Club World Cup, Botafogo have struggled to find a reliable replacement. His successor, Arthur Cabral, endured a torrid evening in their 3-0 defeat to Flamengo on Wednesday, receiving boos from the home crowd after another disappointing display. Head coach Davide Ancelotti admitted afterwards that the team’s biggest problem lies in their inability to finish chances.
“We find it difficult to turn games around. That’s clear,” Ancelotti said post-match. “It’s not about a lack of opportunities — it’s about not taking them. Scoring goals has become our biggest challenge.”
Other forwards, including Chris Ramos and Gonzalo Mastriani, have also failed to make an impact, leaving the team short of confidence in front of goal.
Meanwhile, Igor Jesus has made a flying start to life in England, netting four goals for Nottingham Forest since his move to the City Ground in July. Despite leaving Brazil nearly four months ago — and appearing in only ten league matches this year — he still remains Botafogo’s top scorer of 2025 with nine goals. Midfielder Jefferson Savarino, with four strikes, is now their leading scorer among current players.
“When your top scorer only has four goals, it says a lot,” Ancelotti added. “We’re a team that competes well and defends well, but clearly we’re missing that cutting edge.”
The contrast between the two clubs is stark. While Botafogo’s campaign has unraveled amid attacking woes, Nottingham Forest appear to have unearthed a reliable finisher. Igor Jesus’s smooth transition to Premier League football suggests Forest may have pulled off one of the shrewdest signings of their season — and Botafogo are now paying the price for letting him go.