Brazilian outlet UOL reported that Atalanta and Zenit St Petersburg have also been in touch, while Palmeiras and Flamengo hold a watching brief domestically. Botafogo have made their position clear: they will only sanction a move to Europe. A sale to a Brazilian club is not on the table.
The 25-year-old's call-up to Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup has hardened Botafogo's resolve not to rush a decision. The club's internal assessment is that his profile at an international tournament on home soil will only drive up his value and sharpen competition among interested parties. The strategy is to listen to offers, watch the market develop, and take stock once the World Cup is done. AC Milan, while restructuring their management team, are now in the mix.
Danilo is already familiar to Premier League observers. He spent two seasons at Nottingham Forest, making 50 top-flight appearances between 2022 and 2024, before returning to Brazil. His debut campaign at Botafogo was disrupted by a hamstring injury, but he has been transformed this season — producing 10 goals and three assists in 24 appearances across all competitions.
The profile that has attracted attention is a significant shift from his Forest days. At Botafogo, Danilo has evolved from a holding midfielder into a dynamic, hybrid player capable of breaking lines and arriving late into attacking positions, racking up 11 goals and seven assists across 41 appearances in total since his return.
For Manchester United, the timing is straightforward. Casemiro has left Old Trafford, Manuel Ugarte's future is uncertain, and manager Michael Carrick — having guided the club to Champions League qualification — now has the backing to reshape the engine room. Danilo is understood to be one of multiple midfield targets, alongside Atalanta's Éderson, for whom talks are already at an advanced stage.
The player's own preference is a return to Europe. Whether United move beyond an initial enquiry, and whether they are prepared to meet a valuation understood to be in the region of £30–35 million, will determine whether a second stint in the Premier League becomes reality.