Good decision for him to leave? Recent stats shows Nuno’s brilliance by letting go of £15m player who would have become a liability now at City Ground.
The position was always challenging, especially considering the credit Steve Cooper had earned with the club’s supporters.
Oliver Glasner was interviewed by Evangelos Marinakis for the role but didn’t make a strong impression, leading the focus to shift to Espirito Santo instead.
One of Espirito Santo’s initial tasks was overseeing the January transfer window. After signing three new players, it was necessary for others to make way.
Among those who left was the well-liked midfielder Orel Mangala, who joined Lyon on an initial loan with a mandatory transfer fee agreed upon for the summer.
At the time, Mangala was performing well for Nottingham Forest, but Espirito Santo had different plans for the squad and approved his departure.
Last night, Mangala’s exit seemed like a smart decision based on his performance for Belgium.
His display didn’t go well, as two media outlets expressed disappointment. Walfoot was particularly critical, giving him a rating of 3/10 and stating, “His pre-assist for the 1-1 might have saved his game, but once again, he was outplayed by opposing midfielders as soon as the pace picked up. His careless turnover leading to France’s 1-2 goal was disastrous. Simply insufficient.”
Similarly, Foot Mercato also rated him 3/10, describing his performance as “bland” and accusing him of doing “the bare minimum.”
Forest’s decision to move on from Mangala now seems like a brilliant one.
The club secured a substantial loan fee and £15 million from Lyon in the summer for Mangala, and that now looks like a shrewd move.
Forest’s midfield is stacked with talent, and moving Mangala – along with Moussa Niakhaté – to Lyon allowed them to retain their key players.
Mangala’s struggles at Lyon were evident, given that he’s now on loan at Everton and still fighting for a consistent spot in Sean Dyche’s lineup.
Meanwhile, Forest boasts players like Ryan Yates, Nicolas Dominguez, James Ward-Prowse, and Elliot Anderson in their midfield, with Danilo and Ibrahim Sangaré also in the squad but currently sidelined with injuries.
Mangala was a reliable player during his time at Forest, but ultimately, time moves on, and Espirito Santo’s decision to part ways with him has been more than vindicated.