Nottingham Forest have announced the departure of their Sporting Director, Filippo Giraldi, after just six months in the role. The Italian joined the club in October of last year and was responsible for overseeing the club’s record-breaking summer transfer window, as well as their January spending.
The club has stated that Giraldi’s departure was amicable and comes after owner Evangelos Marinakis expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s recent results, saying that they must improve immediately. This sentiment has been echoed by Forest fans, as the team has only won once since January and currently sits in the Premier League relegation zone following a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa.
In January, Forest made several notable signings including Brazilian midfielder Danilo from Palmeiras for around £16m, midfielder Jonjo Shelvey and defender Felipe for undisclosed fees, midfielder Gustavo Scarpa on a free transfer, plus striker Chris Wood and goalkeeper Keylor Navas on loan.
It remains to be seen how the club will move forward without Giraldi, but it is clear that the team’s recent performances have not been up to the standards expected by the owners and fans alike. With the team in a precarious position, it is now up to the manager Steve Cooper to turn things around and ensure that Nottingham Forest remain in the Premier League.