Nuno Espirito Santo Ola Aina Nottingham ForestAasif Rahman
Ola Aina joined a number of Nottingham Forest players to react as the club made an official announcement regarding manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s future.
Nottingham Forest enjoyed an impressive 2024/25 Premier League campaign, even though the final day ended in disappointment as they narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification.
Nuno guided Forest to a seventh-place finish, securing European football at the City Ground for the first time in decades with a spot in next season’s UEFA Conference League.
Despite the progress, concerns had emerged in recent weeks over Nuno’s future at the club.
Tensions boiled over when owner Evangelos Marinakis stormed onto the Forest pitch following an incident involving Taiwo Awoniyi in the match against Leicester, with footage showing him to be frustrated with the manager.
The scenes left many Nottingham Forest fans worried that Nuno could be dismissed, particularly after reports of a clear disagreement between manager and owner.
However, those fears have now been eased following an announcement from the club on the head coach’s future.
Nuno Espirito Santo, Nottingham Forest
Nuno at Nottingham Forest.
Nottingham Forest agree new Nuno Espirito Santo contract
Despite recent speculation over Nuno’s position, Nottingham Forest’s hierarchy have made it clear they’re backing their manager for the long term.
On 21 June, the club officially announced that Nuno has signed a new contract running until 2028.
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The news prompted a wave of positive responses from players on Instagram, with Aina among those showing support, alongside the likes of Neco Williams and Ryan Yates.
Nuno initially replaced Steve Cooper in December 2023 and successfully guided the club to safety, with Forest surviving on the final day of the 2023/24 season.
Last season, as well as a European place, he also led them to the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1991, adding another highlight to a resurgent campaign.
Nottingham Forest face competition from Chelsea for Malick Fofana
Malick Fofana Lyon
With Nuno now secured, attention has turned towards strengthening the squad ahead of their return to European football.
Report suggest Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Lyon winger Malick Fofana, but face stiff competition from Chelsea, who have already made contact with the French club regarding a potential deal.
The club are also exploring alternatives, with Football Insider reporting that Norwich City winger Borja Sainz is a target for Forest, who look to improve depth across the squad.
Reinforcements are expected this summer, especially with the majority of the team set to experience European competition for the first time.
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