Nuno Espirito Santo's tenure at Nottingham Forest is under a cloud of uncertainty after the manager openly acknowledged that his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis has deteriorated. The revelation comes amidst reports of rising tensions between the two, casting a shadow over Nuno's future at the City Ground despite signing a new contract just months ago.
Whispers of discontent began circulating on Friday, ahead of Forest's Premier League encounter with Crystal Palace this Sunday. Sources suggest that Marinakis is exploring alternative managerial options, raising serious questions about Nuno's long-term prospects, despite a strong showing for the team last season.
Forest, who secured a commendable seventh-place finish in the 2024-25 season and earned a spot in this season's Europa League, are reportedly considering potential replacements for the 51-year-old Nuno. This news is particularly surprising given that Nuno inked a contract extension in June, committing him to the club until 2028. However, his recent remarks paint a picture of a fractured relationship, hinting at a possible departure.
"I always had a very good relationship with the owner – last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis," Nuno confessed. "This season it is not so well [between us] but I always believe that dialogue is important because my concern is the squad and the season we have ahead of us. Our relationship has changed and we are not as close."
When directly questioned about the altered dynamic with Marinakis, Nuno responded candidly: "No, it is not good. I think everybody at the club should be together but this not the reality." This admission underscores the severity of the situation and the potential ramifications for the team's stability.
Forest has been active in the transfer market in recent weeks, bolstering their squad with the additions of Omari Hutchinson, Arnaud Kalimuendo, James McAtee, and Douglas Luiz, the latter arriving on loan. However, prior to their 3-1 victory over Brentford in their Premier League opener last Sunday, Nuno voiced concerns about the perceived lack of transfer activity at the City Ground.
"We have doubts, who is going to be [here], when are they [new signings] going to come? All these things create doubts," Nuno stated, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the squad's composition. "Not only me but in the club. What we want is game-by-game to have as many options as possible. Europe will come after, and for sure it will be better, but for now until that happens it is a major concern. The owner is aware, the club is aware, everyone is aware. Everybody knows the reality. This is a lost chance that we had as a group to do it."
Under Nuno's leadership, Forest has achieved a 43% win rate in their Premier League matches (26 wins out of 60). Only Stuart Pearce boasts a superior win rate as Forest boss in the competition (44%, with four wins out of nine games). However, the current discord with Marinakis raises questions about Nuno's ability to maintain this level of success.
"I hope so but I don’t know, that I cannot answer," Nuno responded when asked if his relationship with Marinakis could be salvaged. "On my side I am doing whatever I can to help Forest, my commitment is something [that I see] and I feel it."
The tension between Nuno and Marinakis isn't entirely new. In May, Marinakis famously confronted Nuno following a 2-2 draw with Leicester City, seemingly directing angry words at the manager. Marinakis later defended his actions in a statement, attributing the incident to shared frustration over an injury to Taiwo Awoniyi. Nuno himself downplayed the confrontation, citing "confusion" over Awoniyi's usage and emphasizing the emotional nature of football. However, the resurfacing of these issues suggests a deeper rift between the two figures, leaving Nuno's future at Nottingham Forest hanging in the balance.
