Nottingham Forest’s hunt for a right back brought them all the way up to the final week of the transfer window.
There were numerous names linked to the club before Forest signed Nicolo Savona.
Reports linked Nottingham Forest to José Angel Carmona, a versatile full-back who could play either side, before the possibility of Matty Cash returning to the City Ground emerged at a later date as well.
Man City’s Rico Lewis was also on the radar, but before all those, Forest were heavily linked with RCD Mallorca defender Pablo Maffeo.
RCD Mallorca defender Pablo Maffeo in action against Kylian Mbappe.
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The defender was desperate to leave the Spanish club after fans had turned on him at the end of last season, and Maffeo refused to join Mallorca’s pre-season tour to secure a move to Forest.
The move never materialised, and he stayed at Mallorca. However, he has now issued an apology to fans, lifting the lid on the failed transfer.
Former Nottingham Forest target Pablo Maffeo releases public apology to Mallorca fans
After he was unable to move on from RCD Mallorca, Pablo Maffeo had to reintegrate into the Spanish side in order to play any football this season.
The Argentine seemed set on moving away, and Mallorca fans were no doubt happy at the prospect. In the final match of last season, the fans chanted ‘Maffeo, leave already,’ prompting the defender to reply telling them to ‘shut up.’
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The relationship was completely fractured, and a move to Nottingham Forest was extremely close in the summer.
Pablo Maffeo in action for Mallorca
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
He has now released an apology to the Mallorca fans, and spoke about the failed move saying, ‘Let’s take the bull by the horns. I’ve always said I’m fine here in the city and that I simply thought my time here was over.’
‘Since that’s not the case, I’m obviously going to give it my all. I’m going to continue the same. I’ve played for this club while injured, with three broken vertebrae, with a broken knee, with a broken foot.’
‘There’s no problem on a sporting level.’
Things could have worked out so differently for both Maffeo and Forest, but the latter may actually be happy how it all turned out.
Nottingham Forest ended up with a better deal anyway
While it would have been disappointing for both the club and player that a deal did not go through, Nottingham Forest have ended up on the better end.
Nicolo Savona is a younger defender, and has a much higher ceiling. Ola Aina was always going to be the starting right back, and having Savona be able to deputise and learn will only make the Italian better.
Additionally, at just 22 years old, the former Juventus man has a higher sell-on value if things don’t pan out.
And in a world of PSR and FFP, that could make all the difference in the years to come.