Nuno Espirito Santo Makes Remarkable Admission Over Relationship With Marinakis

Nuno Espirito Santo Makes Remarkable Admission Over Relationship With Marinakis

Nuno Espirito Santo has remarkably revealed a worrying update regarding his relationship with Evangelos Marinakis.

The Portuguese manager said that the two are “not as close” as fans would think and that their “relationship has changed.”

The news comes after reports that Nuno’s future at Nottingham Forest is uncertain, despite qualifying for Europe for the first time since 1996, rumours which will have only been strengthened this afternoon.

What Were Nuno’s Full Quotes to the Press?

Nuno started by saying his relationship with the owner last season was strong, adding: “I always had a very good relationship with the owner, last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis.

“This season it is not so well but I always believe that dialogue is important because my concern is the squad and the season we have ahead of us. Our relationship has changed and we are not as close.”

Nuno Espírito Santo’s time at Forest:

• Secured survival after a 4-point deduction
• Three PL Manager of the Month awards
• Achieved the club’s highest finish in 30 years
• An FA Cup semi-final
• Secured European football at the CG

Really hope this isn’t the end 👑#NFFC pic.twitter.com/Dz1xKT9qGK

— Ethan Lamb (@ethanlamb01) August 22, 2025

Asked for the reasoning of his breakdown in communication, the Portuguese manager continued:

"I don't know exactly but I'm being honest with you, it is not the same. The reason behind it I do not know. What I said last week or two weeks ago was my concern and why I was worried about where we were going. My job is clear and I think at Forest we are all clear that my job is to manage the team and prepare the team well. At the club there are different opinions, I'm someone that says my opinions and then I do my job."

And finally, in response to a question whether the connection can be fixed, he revealed:

"I hope so but I don't know, that I cannot answer. On my side I am doing whatever I can to help Forest, my commitment is something that I see and I feel it."

Why Has This Happened?

This isn’t the first time the two have clashed in public before.

Immediately following last season’s 2-2 draw with Leicester, that saw Forest’s Champions League qualification hopes fade, Marinakis stormed onto the pitch and conversed with Nuno in controversial fashion.

What do you think Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis said to Nuno Espirito Santo after the club's draw against Leicester? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Et4GoRBkTx

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 11, 2025

Many fans and pundits alike were outraged at the situation, most notably Gary Neville who suggested the manager should “negotiate his exit” that very evening.

However, the owner and the club were fuming with the press speculation over the nature of the conversation, releasing a statement which read:

“We urge former coaches and players, and other public figures in the game, to resist the urge to rush to judgement and fake news online, especially when they do not have the full facts and context - least of all the injured player (Taiwo Awoniyi).

“Baseless and ill-informed outrage for the purposes of personal social media traction serves no one."

Very worrying comments from Nuno Espírito Santo at #nffc today. Said he and owner Evangelos Marinakis are “not as close” and the “relationship has changed”. More to follow later @TeleFootball

— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) August 22, 2025

In last week’s press conference, Nuno expressed his frustration at the club’s transfer recruitment, despite the signing of seven new players this window.

He hit out:

"The same, concerned, especially about the game on Sunday, we are going to play a tough game against a good team and we are short on options to give solutions that the game might need, which is our major concern. We need players. I think we need another option for the goalkeeper situation, on the defensive line full backs. I think we are ok in the centre halves."

"Dominguez is injured, Danilo is not here so we need midfielders, on the wings also. In front we have Igor Jesus, Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi but maybe another body would be good because of the amount of games."

Perhaps, disagreements based on incoming players have been the cause for concern, or maybe both men’s targets for this season don’t align - or potentially both things are true.

Only time will tell if the two can continue working together professionally, or if Nuno’s time at the City Ground is drawing to an unceremonious end.