'Absurd' - Nuno Espirito Santo wants three more signings at Nottingham Forest and hits out at 'nonsense' narrative

‘Absurd’ – Nuno Espirito Santo wants three more signings at Nottingham Forest and hits out at ‘nonsense’ narrative

Nuno Espirito Santo says the rumours that he could leave Nottingham Forest are 'absurd' after revealing his relationship with Evangelos Marinakis has become strained.

The Portuguese guided Forest to European football for the first time since 1995 last season and was rewarded with a new contract in June for his brilliant efforts.

5 Nuno cut an animinated figure in his post-match press conference after his eye-opening comments on Friday Credit: Getty

However, Nuno fuelled speculation over his future with some eye-opening comments during Friday's press conference ahead of their 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

He admitted that his relationship with Marinakis had deteriorated, due in part to the arrival of global head of football Edu Gaspar.

But on Sunday, after Callum Hudson-Odoi cancelled out Ismaila Sarr's opener to salvage a point for Forest in their Selhurst Park stalemate, Nuno insisted there was nothing to the speculation over his employment.

However, he agreed a conversation between the three men is 'more important than anything'.

"Absolute nonsense. Absurd. This narrative, it's absurd," retorted Nuno, when asked about the reports.

Yet when pressed as to whether he was confident he would still be Forest's manager when the transfer window shuts on September 1, he replied: "I cannot answer that question, but what I know is that I am working and trying to do my job the best I can.

"Of course, the situation has to be solved and we are responsible people. We can have a good conversation to create a good platform for what is more important, the team.

"We're going to have it. We must. We need to have this conversation and we will have it. This is what I think is more important than anything."

Signs of a difficult relationship between the owner and head coach emerged towards the end of last season when Marinakis stormed the pitch to berate Nuno after a draw to relegated Leicester City in May.

Marinakis later claimed it was due to the way an injury to Taiwo Awoniyi was handled with the Nigeria forward going to hospital and being placed into an induced coma as he underwent abdominal surgery having being kept on the pitch after a sickening collision with a goal-post.

5 Nuno has since admitted that his relationship with the Forest owner hasn't been good of late Credit: AFP

But Nuno's comments ahead of the Palace clash gave a very big hint that all was not well between him and his boss.

“I always had a very good relationship with the owner, last season was very close, almost [talking on a] daily basis,” Nuno said on Friday.

“This season, not so well, but I always believe that dialogue and your opinion is always valid, because my concern is the squad and the season that we have ahead of us. But our relations have changed.

“It is not so close [now]. I’m being honest with you, I cannot say that is the same, because it’s not the same.

"The reason behind it, I don’t know. My job is always to try to anticipate what’s coming ahead of us, and that’s what I said with respect.

“It’s not good. I think everybody at the club should be together but it’s not the reality.

5 Nuno has been in charge of Forest since December 2023 Credit: Getty

"The reality is that [it] is not what it used to be. It was a good, respectful relationship, but was more based on trust and sharing opinions, and now it’s not so good.”

talkSPORT understands Nuno could still lose his job at the City Ground with former Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou a contender to replace him if Nuno leaves.

More business needed

For now, though, Nuno is in charge of the team and he also insisted that Forest need to make more signings before the transfer window slams shut on September 1.

The 51-year-old even outlined the positions where he feels Forest need to recruit.

"First of all, let's try to complete our squad. This is really important in the final days of this transfer market and we still have the chance to win," Nuno said.

“I would say we need three players - one goalkeeper more, and two full-backs because you cannot live with the fear and uncertainty if something happens to Ola (Aina) and Neco (Williams).

5 Forest have spent over £115million this summer but Nuno wants Marinakis to put his hand in his pocket further Credit: Getty

5 This goal from Hudson-Odoi earned Forest a point at Palace after winning their first game at home to Brentford last weekend Credit: Getty

"After these situations, what is important is Forest, not individual persons. We must have that conversation, and we will have it.”

Forest finish the weekend fourth in the Premier League as they battled to a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.

Their next outing sees them play host to the league's bottom side West Ham on Sunday August 31.

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