N.E.C. Nijmegen missed a big chance to sign Danilo permanently. The striker, who played on loan in the second half of the 2025-26 season, could have been signed, but the club decided against it. Now he risks returning to Rangers, which is a disappointment for the Nijmegen fans.
What happened with Danilo?
Danilo was loaned to N.E.C. Nijmegen in January 2026, but his performances were disappointing. In 14 games, he scored only 1 goal, which was not enough to trigger the buy option. Now he seems to be getting another loan spell at Botafogo, but that club also has a buy option based on the number of games played.
Why is this a mistake by Rangers?
Rangers should have sold Danilo this summer, instead of loaning him out again. If he performs poorly at Botafogo, the club won’t buy him and he will return to Rangers. That would mean the club will have to find a solution for the striker again next year, as he clearly no longer fits into manager Derek McInnes’ plans.
What does this mean for N.E.C. Nijmegen?
For N.E.C. Nijmegen, this is a missed opportunity. Danilo could have been a cheap striker, but now the club has to look for another one. The club had the option to sign him for a low price, but decided against it. Now the club will have to look for other options for the upcoming season.
