Marko Stamenic has left Nottingham Forest for Championship side Swansea City, a move that was aided by another star who struggled to make an impact under Nuno Espírito Santo.
Stamenic was made available by Forest after just a year at the City Ground, in which he spent the entire time at Evangelos Marinakis-owned Olympiacos on loan.
While not exactly impressing in Greece, Stamenic had shown promise with New Zealand, but Forest’s European qualification perhaps made it so his chances of making a true impact in the Reds’ squad were slim.
Therefore, Stamenic’s move to Swansea looks a good one, and he was helped in the decision process by a player who found himself in a very similar position on Trentside.
Lewis O'Brien in action for Nottingham Forest against Chesterfield.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Lewis O’Brien helped Marko Stamenic decide on Swansea move
Before Stamenic, midfielder Lewis O’Brien departed Forest for the Championship this summer, signing for fellow Welsh side Wrexham, setting up a potential clash between the two ex-Reds this season.
O’Brien had actually played for Swansea on loan last season before making the permanent switch to Wrexham, and he was able to give Stamenic some advice about the move.
Stamenic said: “Lewis O’Brien spoke to me. I know he was only here for a short time but it was one that he felt was full of positives. He only spoke highly of the club and the people around it, and I arrive in Swansea with only good feelings about the club.”
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Clearly helping with the decision-making, Stamenic shouldn’t stop following O’Brien’s advice quite yet, given how well the Englishman has settled into life back in the Championship.
Marko Stamenic should try to copy Lewis O’Brien after Swansea move
O’Brien was open to staying at Swansea, but in the end, the finances involved in his permanent Forest exit priced out the South Wales club.
Wrexham swooped in and took advantage and while they haven’t had the best start to life in the second tier, O’Brien has been impressing Wrexham fans.
A battling midfield debut against Southampton was followed by a goal in the 3-2 defeat against West Brom, asserting the former Forest man as one of the Wrexham stars who will help them adapt to the new division.
Swansea have had an indifferent start with a win and a loss, so Stamenic has the opportunity to go into the Championship side and show his international credentials, just as his fellow ex-Forest man has at Wrexham.