The exact structure of the deal potentially taking Rangers forward Danilo to Botafogo has been revealed.
The 27-year-old striker was notably left out of Derek McInnes‘ pre-season squad travelling to Spain, instantly sparking intense speculation about his future at Ibrox.
Danilo and John Souttar were left back in Scotland with the sole intention of fast-tracking their exits, with the latter at the centre of talks with Sheffield United.
While Sky Sports initially confirmed that Botafogo had opened talks to sign the Brazilian forward, concrete details regarding the nature of the bid remained scarce.
Now, highly respected Brazilian outlet GE Globo has provided a comprehensive update, revealing exactly how the South American outfit intend to secure his services.
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Danilo wanted in loan-to-buy transfer
According to the reports out of Brazil, Botafogo are not currently negotiating a permanent transfer. Instead, they are proposing a loan deal running until June 2027.
Crucially for Rangers, the agreement will also feature a formal option to buy the forward permanently at the end of that loan spell.
This structure allows the Rio de Janeiro club to evaluate Danilo’s fitness and form over a full season before committing to a permanent transfer fee.
Danilo spent the second half of last season on loan at NEC Nijmegen, who reportedly had an option to buy him for £4million.
Considering Rangers signed him for £6m three years ago, they will still be looking to add a multi-million-pound buy option in any agreement with Botafogo.
Botafogo to offer Rangers escape route to Danilo
Having struggled to lock down a regular starting role at Ibrox, Danilo joined NEC Nijmegen on loan mid-way through last season.
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In total, the forward registered 40 competitive appearances across both clubs last season:
- 28 games for Rangers in the first half of the season
- 12 games for NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands
- 5 goals scored in total, with his final strike coming against Feyenoord back in April
With Rangers undergoing a major squad overhaul under McInnes, offloading Danilo’s wages makes complete sense for Andrew Cavenagh and Co.
A return to his homeland offers the perfect clean slate for the forward to rebuild his confidence and get his career back on track.
