Nuno Espírito Santo’s new contract will be to the benefit of the vast majority of Nottingham Forest, but one young gem could be the player who gains the most from the extended stay.
Evangelos Marinakis is demanding even more progress from his manager as Espírito Santo extended his stay at the club until 2028, but his time at the City Ground thus far suggests that the good times will keep coming.
Amongst the excitement, Forest fans took aim at Gary Neville to remind the pundit that he said Nuno should’ve resigned last summer, a comment that looks rather silly now.
This excitement must’ve been echoed within the Forest squad as well, but one talent in particular looks set to benefit from Espírito Santo’s extended stay most of all.
Zach Abbott during the Carabao Cup tie between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Zach Abbott could benefit the most from Nuno Espírito Santo’s new contract
Abbott has been starring for England since the end of the season, captaining his nation in the Under-19 European Championships.
England didn’t qualify for the knockout stages, so the youngster can now fully focus on what should be a significant season for him, thanks to the faith that the Forest manager has in him.
Remarkably, Espírito Santo started Abbott in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City. The result didn’t go Forest’s way, but Abbott impressed Espírito Santo with his efforts to the point that the manager predicted a “bright future” for him.
Now, with Forest having European football to contend with, this trust that Nuno clearly has in Abbott could see him play a significant part in the UEFA Conference League, due partly to his useful homegrown status.
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However much Abbott benefits from Espírito Santo’s new deal, though, there is arguably one member of the Forest squad who must be cursing his luck at the Portuguese boss’ extended stay.
Ramon Sosa could suffer from Nuno Espírito Santo’s extended stay
There’s no getting past the fact that Ramon Sosa’s move to Forest hasn’t worked out, with Espírito Santo not favouring the Paraguayan throughout the season.
Ramon Sosa acknowledges the fans following the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Brentford
Photo by Cameron Smith – Danehouse/Getty Images
In fact, it has been suggested that Sosa has fallen out with Espírito Santo, so the winger won’t be best pleased to see his boss extend his contract until 2028.
The most obvious solution is that Sosa leaves the club this summer, but that won’t be as easy as it seems, as Sosa is keen to stay in Europe, but only South American sides have shown an interest in him so far.
Palmeiras are desperate to sign Sosa, but if he will not entertain a move to Brazil, the 25-year-old will have to try and impress a manager who seems uninterested in giving him a chance.