Internal tensions with Marinakis force Nuno out

Despite Nottingham Forest's success on the pitch during Nuno Espirito Santo's time as manager, his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis became increasingly strained.

In August, Nuno revealed he feared for his job.

Internal tensions at the club were believed to be centred around disagreements over their transfer business. Nuno had previously criticised the club's activity in the summer transfer window, saying they had wasted a good chance.

Edu was appointed as Forest's global head of football earlier in the summer and has taken firm control over the club's recruitment operation.

"I always had a very good relationship with the owner - last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis. This season it is not so well," Nuno said in a press conference.

"Our relationship has changed and we are not as close. Everybody at the club should be together, but this is not the reality."

In total, Nottingham Forest made 13 summer signings for about £196m based on reported initial fees.

As for their outgoings, Anthony Elanga, Danilo and Wayne Hennessey were among the players whose Forest careers ended this window.

In May last season, Marinakis appeared to confront Nuno on the pitch following a 2-2 draw against Leicester City at the City Ground.

Forest later said the incident was because of the owner's frustration that striker Taiwo Awoniyi had continued to play following an 88th-minute injury, which subsequently required what was described as "urgent" surgery.

The club said there was "no confrontation" and it was "fake news" to suggest otherwise.

However, those missed points against an already-relegated side were part of a run that saw Forest - who had been in contention for Champions League qualification - only pick up eight points from their last eight matches of the 2024-25 campaign.

They qualified for the Europa Conference League but were moved into the Europa League for 2025-26 at Crystal Palace's expense, after the Eagles were deemed to be in breach of multi-club ownership rules.