Star linked with Nottingham Forest endures nightmare Club World Cup outing after signing new contract

Nottingham Forest have never lacked ambition since returning to the Premier League in 2022.

The Reds made some mistakes in the transfer window after promotion, but in the first season back, players like Jesse Lingard, Felipe and Serge Aurier all arrived with experience and as statements of intent.

Lessons were learned the following summer when Callum Hudson-Odoi arrived at Forest in a cut-price deal, and players like Anthony Elanga and Ibrahim Sangare were added to the ranks.

Elliot Anderson and Nikola Milenkovic were the stellar signings in the summer of 2024, and the Reds have never shied away from making plays for top-quality players.

Raul Asencio endured a nightmare Club World Cup display

Forest showed ambition by bidding for Asencio previously, but he’s since managed to get himself into the team with Real Madrid, where he’s kicked on as a player.

Asencio was in fine form for Los Blancos last season, but last night at the Club World Cup, he left his team with a mountain to climb.

The Spanish performer was sent off after just seven minutes against Pachuca and that threatened Madrid’s ability to win the game against the lesser opposition.

Goals from Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Federico Valverde scored to avert any danger of an upset, but with 10 men it was always going to take a big effort.

Asencio will now miss the team’s final group game against RB Salzburg on Friday.

Forest must keep showing ambition

Nobody can ever knock Evangelos Marinakis for what he’s trying to do with Forest.

Marinakis will be dipping into his long pockets again this summer to provide the Reds with the injection of quality required to go to the next level during 2025/26.

Asencio won’t be a player who is coming to Forest any time soon, given that he’s signed a new contract at the Bernabeu.