Nuno reunion at West Ham looks on as £30m ace 'turns into Pirlo' in 'midfield masterclass'

Chants of Nuno Espirito Santo are nothing new at Nottingham Forest. But the fact they echoed through the City Ground on a night when Ange Postecoglou suffered yet another setback – and after their beloved former head coach joined West Ham United – well, Evangelos Marinakis may be wishing he could turn back the clock.

If the madcap Forest owner could borrow The Doctor’s Tardis for an afternoon, he might just be tempted to go back to September 9th and issue a stern warning to his former self, paradox be-damned.

That, after all, was the day Evangelos Marinakis sacked Nuno Espirito Santo. Or, perhaps, the Greek magnate would set the calendar for July 7th. The day Nottingham Forest hired Edu Gaspar as their global head of football.

It is no secret that a bitter fall-out between Nuno and Edu led to his departure, and his subsequent appointment at West Ham United. It is also no coincidence that, as Hammers News reported a few days ago, Nuno demanded control over recruitment before signing a three-year deal at the London Stadium.

And as one of very few positives on another dark day for his Forest predecessor Ange Postecoglou – given the Graham Potter treatment amid a volley of ‘sacked in the morning’ taunts from his own supporters – Ibrahim Sangare might just have given his chances of a Nuno reunion at West Ham a bit of a boost.

West Ham United reunion with Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare should be considered

Ironically, had Soungoutou Magassa not chosen West Ham over Nottingham Forest, Sangare might already be wearing claret and blue.

Magassa snubbed Nuno’s Forest side in favour of their London-based opponents before completing that £14 million move from Monaco. Missing out meant that the two-time European champions would close the door on a potential Sangare exit.

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West Ham initially tried to sign the ex-PSV captain on loan, with a purchase clause included.

But on Thursday night’s evidence – arguably the stand-out performer in Nottingham Forest’s disastrous 3-2 home defeat by FC Midtjylland in the Europa League – retaining Sangare was a far better decision than parting with Nuno.

Not that this is a particularly high bar, of course.

“Not a Sangare fan at all but have to say he was really good last night,” one fan wrote on X, the Ivory Coast international displaying a passing range and a creativity few knew he had up against a deep-lying Midtjylland backline.

“Sangare was amazing! At one stage he ran half the pitch up the middle which I’ve never seen him do before. He wanted to win.”

“I know it doesn’t fit certain people’s agenda, but Sangare was superb alongside [Elliot] Anderson tonight whatever the result.”

“Two positives from last night; Sangare and [Dan] Ndoye were excellent despite everything.”

“Sangare was excellent. Arguably one of the best players last night. [Fans who don’t rate him] clearly just have an agenda.”

Sangare ‘turned into Andrea Pirlo’ as Forest fans turn on Ange Postecoglou

While a poorly-timed run from Chris Wood denied Sangare what would have been a fourth assist in Garibaldi red, the £30 million man looked the player most likely to break Midtjylland’s resistance in the final half hour.

There were a couple of beautifully incisive through balls into the final third, and one rasping long-range drive which flew just wide.

While his time in English football has been interrupted by injury and some occasional poor form, if Nuno does push West Ham to renew their interest in January, on this evidence there is a lot of talent to work with.

“Now can everyone see what Sangare is about? Probably our best player tonight!”

“Who knew Sangare could run with the ball at his feet? More please!”

“I feel sorry for Sangare as that was a midfield masterclass.”

“Why has Sangare waited until now to turn into [Andrea] Pirlo?”

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