Tiago Silva has admitted he regrets leaving Nottingham Forest after only one season, revealing that his decision to depart went against the wishes of owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Speaking toO Jogo, the Portuguese midfielder reflected on his time at the City Ground, describing it as one of the best experiences of his career.
“I loved the club, I loved everything. It was an incredible experience and I think it was the best year of my career in terms of performances and numbers,” he said.
“I was lucky to have a coach [Sabri Lamouchi] who liked me a lot, and an assistant [Bruno Baltazar] who made adaptation easier. I have great memories of the club. It was my first experience abroad,” he told the newspaper.
A decision made for personal reasons
Silva explained that his decision to leave Nottingham Forest was not based on football matters but on family reasons.
“The relationship with the city was a bit colder, because the people were cold and my wife didn’t have the best time. That was one of the reasons for leaving,” he explained.
The midfielder added that this discomfort ended up guiding a choice he later came to regret.“The president wanted me to renew, but I asked to leave and today I regret it very much. I was living the best experience of my life in an amazing league,” Silva admitted.
Regret and reflection
During his season at Forest, Silva made a strong impression on supporters and within the dressing room.
He played a key role under Sabri Lamouchi and was part of a group that included Portuguese teammates Tobias Figueiredo, Yuri Ribeiro and João Carvalho. His technical quality and consistency earned praise from fans, and his exit surprised many at the time.
Looking back, Silva says his year at Nottingham Forest shaped his career. He still follows the club from a distance and remains proud of his spell in English football.
The midfielder also revealed that he later recommended Nottingham Forest to another Portuguese player, Jota Silva, who eventually joined from Vitória Guimarães.
“I told him about the greatness of Nottingham and the downsides of the city, as there’s not much to do. But he joined in a different context, in the Premier League and as an expensive signing. It was an investment, and he’s someone who will continue to grow,” Tiago Silva concluded.