Nottinghamshire

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"I try to remind my players that we are all living our childhood dreams and we should never forget that," said Oliver Glasner after he welcomed local grassroots coaches and schoolchildren to Nottingham Forest's training ground over the international break.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Ryan Yates were among the first-team players in attendance, taking part in an initiative aimed at "further strengthening the connection between the club and the local community".

"It is very important to be accessible to grassroots coaches and kids," Glasner told BBC Radio Nottingham. "Everything usually happens behind closed doors, so if there's ever an opportunity then I'm always open to it.

"I can't talk about what other managers do. All I know is I'm enjoying what I'm doing. I like to be here at the training ground, whether that's with the players, my staff or the other people who work here.

"I'm a human being just like everyone else. We all want the same thing, we all want to be successful, so it's important to create an environment here where everybody feels welcome. That's just how I am."

On the importance of grassroots football, the Forest boss said: "It is where football starts. It is responsible for developing all of the kids in the villages where they grow up.

"It is also important to have coaches who love the kids and love football. The wider the foundation is, the higher the top level gets. It was great to have the coaches here because they are so important to football."

He added: "I love training with kids because I love their enthusiasm. It is just pure joy because life is all about football for them. It really reminds me of when I was a boy - I was playing football all day, whether it was at school or at home.

"When I see children laughing, smiling and having fun, it is the best. Unfortunately we forget that football is supposed to be fun sometimes because of the environment that we're in.

"There will always be pressure for me to perform, of course, but I try to remind my players that we are all living our childhood dreams and we should never forget that."

Listen to the full interview by pressing play below or on BBC Sounds here

Since Leo Bonatini became Nottingham Forest's first ever Brazilian to join the club in 2019, the Reds have remarkably signed 14 players from the football-famous country.

In a competitive market where clubs aim to identify a bright new spark - Forest have targeted South America continuously since Bonatini's arrival.

On BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast, football commentator, scout and author Jon Cotterill, who is based in South America, gave an insight into why the Garibaldis target Brazilian players.

"One of the things it probably started with was Ross Wilson," he explained.

"I met him at Southampton. I think it was from him and his contacts in Brazil and in South America. A few of them have gone to Newcastle with him. It was around that time when things started to pick up South American wise."

Former chief executive Wilson was at the club between 2023 and 2025, but he is now Newcastle United's sporting director.

"It has always been the case that clubs have known about South Americans," added Cotterill.

"In terms of visas, a long time ago, you had to fork out at least £10m to get a South American. Maybe he had to be an international player as well. If he wasn't, you would have to go through a tribunal for special talent."

Forest currently have four Brazilian players as part of their Premier League squad; John Victor, Murillo, Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus.

Glasner's side also have Brazilians Cuiabano and Morato on respective loans at Vasco da Gama and West Ham.

"League Two clubs can now sign South Americans with ease," Cotterill added.

"The market has changed. I think it is down to Wilson and that period when they started to look at the South American market."

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Nottingham Forest, Roma and Napoli targetDodo, 27, looks set to secure a move away from Fiorentina in Janaury, with several clubs interested in the Brazilian full-back. (La Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

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Football finance expert Kieran Magiure, has been answering your questions after Manchester City were found guilty of all charges related to breaches of financial rules.

Gary: Is there any chance this could be resolved by the end of the season?

Kieran: There is a very high chance it will be resolved by the end of the season. Because if it is not, we could end up in another situation very similar to that of Burnley and Everton where a club could be relegated and Manchester City are not given a deduction. And next season, a club that finished in 18th could say had that deduction been applied earlier, we wouldn't have been relegated. So that would add to the complications.

Certainly looking at the Premier League's press release itself, it does seem that it is very keen to resolve it as quickly as possible. If you take a look at the length of time that it took the commissions in respect to Nottingham Forest and Everton, once they have heard the evidence, applying the sanctions is the quickest part. It's listening to evidence that is the torturous process.

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Dappy: Based on everything you read, what is the most likely punishment going to be for Manchester City?

Kieran: I agree that it could be a very hefty points deduction and a transfer embargo at the very least. On top of that, I believe there will be a very significant financial penalty added into the equation. The logic behind having a transfer embargo is that it then becomes a multi-season issue.

If we go back to 2013 when City were in breach of Uefa rules, they had a transfer ban, wage and squad caps, it did impact the club in the subsequent season.

Rehan: If Manchester City get a huge fine, what would the FA do with that money? Where would it go?

Kieran: It would be shared by the Premier League clubs, including Manchester City. And it will be offset against the league's legal bill. Discussions with lawyers suggest they think City could be liable for about two-thirds to three-quarters of Premier League's legal costs, which is estimated to be in the region of £50-60m.

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