Nottingham, May 31, 2025 – Nottingham Forest’s long-awaited return to European football has been marred by internal strife, with manager Nuno Espírito Santo’s future plunged into uncertainty following a dramatic on-pitch altercation with club owner Evangelos Marinakis.
The tension has ignited speculation of Nuno’s departure, especially as Saudi giants Al-Hilal prepare a lucrative £450,000-per-week offer to tempt him away.
Owner’s Pitch Outburst Sparks Crisis
Emotions spilled over on May 11 when Marinakis stormed onto the City Ground pitch after a 2-2 draw with already-relegated Leicester City. His anger, directed at Nuno, was sparked by a botched substitution involving injured striker Taiwo Awoniyi, which forced Forest to play the final 10 minutes with 10 men. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville called the scene “scandalous,” criticizing the owner’s very public intervention.
Nuno attempted to defuse the situation post-match, citing “emotions in football,” while Marinakis later shifted blame to the club’s medical staff. Despite both parties framing the night as a “celebration” of European qualification, the incident laid bare growing tensions behind the scenes.
From Champions League Contenders to Scraping for Europe
Forest’s season has faltered dramatically. Once sitting third in April, they’ve now fallen to seventh after just one win in seven matches. Champions League qualification, once a certainty, is now out of their hands, reliant on a perfect finish and other teams faltering. Nuno acknowledged the team’s defensive fragility: “We’re not solid… we don’t shut teams down.”
Despite ending Forest’s 29-year European drought, the late-season collapse has transformed triumph into tension.
Saudi Pro League Eyes Nuno Amid Instability
Sources confirm Al-Hilal are preparing a high-profile bid to lure Nuno back to Saudi Arabia, where he previously coached Al-Ittihad. The offer includes a staggering £450,000 weekly salary—tax-free—and a promise of long-term backing within the league’s expansionist project.
With Nuno’s Forest contract running until 2026, there’s no urgency for a decision—yet Forest’s delay in offering a new deal and the owner’s unpredictable behavior have created the conditions for an exit.
Loyalty Tested as Nuno Weighs His Future
While Nuno has publicly praised Marinakis—“We owe a lot to the Marinakis family”—the owner’s history of confrontations is raising eyebrows. Marinakis was previously banned for spitting at officials and now faces fresh criticism for undermining his manager in public view.
With Champions League hopes teetering and Saudi riches beckoning, Nuno stands at a crossroads. He has rebuilt Forest in just 18 months, taking them from relegation-threatened to European contenders—a feat widely applauded across English football.
As one club insider warned: “No elite coach puts up with public humiliation forever. Nuno’s done wonders—but his patience has limits.” Unless trust is built behind closed doors”
NEXT: Nottingham Forest Sweep Awards: Murillo, Sels Top Premier League Stats as Club Makes History
