Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo has revealed that his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis, once solid and close, has become noticeably strained. The disclosure has set tongues wagging across the Premier League, spotlighting internal tensions behind the scenes of a club on the cusp of European competition.
The catalyst for the latest wave of speculation was Nuno’s candid remarks during a recent press conference, where he confessed, “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.” He continued with blunt honesty: “Our relationship has changed and we are not as close… I cannot say our relationship is the same, because it’s not. The reason behind it? I don’t know.” His words painted a picture of a relationship in flux—even as he emphasized his professionalism: “My major focus… is to manage the team, prepare the team well, trying to get them to the next level… This is what I always do…”
Nuno’s candor comes on the heels of a season in which Forest punched well above their weight. Under his stewardship, the club secured a seventh-place finish in the Premier League, earning a return to European football for the first time in 29 years.
His three-time Premier League Manager of the Month awards further underscored the transformative impact he has had since arriving in December 2023.
Their relationship had appeared robust not long ago. In June, Nuno signed a three-year contract extension through 2028. Marinakis effused praise at the time: “Nuno has made a great impact… we enjoy a strong and solid relationship together and, above all, we share the same dream and ambition of writing a new history for Nottingham Forest…” That optimism now appears contrasted with the uneasy dynamic Nuno so openly acknowledged.
Pressure may be mounting behind the scenes. The club’s recruitment struggles have been aired publicly, with Nuno lamenting “a major problem” in pre-season planning and expressing frustration at a recruitment process that has left the squad inadequately prepared.
Though Forest have added several high-profile names—including Igor Jesus, Jair Cunha, Dan Ndoye, and Brazilian midfield maestro Douglas Luiz—the underlying tone has been one of concern, not celebration.
The issue of internal discord has not escaped external detection. Betting markets now make Nuno one of the early favourites to be the first Premier League manager sacked this season—a reflection of how quickly public sentiment can pivot under pressure.
Still, this tension must be weighed against earlier, more telling displays of unity—however charged. In May, after Forest’s draw with Leicester City left Champions League qualification in doubt, Marinakis was seen storming onto the pitch to confront Nuno over medical staff reportedly allowing injured forward Taiwo Awoniyi to continue playing.
Media pundits such as Gary Neville branded the scene “absolutely scandalous”—yet Nuno himself came to the owner’s defence, calling the confrontation one born of “passion,” frustration, and shared expectations. As Nuno put it: “It is because of the owner and his passion that we are growing as a club. He pushes us. He wants us to be better. It is his passion and desire to be a big club…”