President ‘delighted’ to see £9m star reject Nottingham Forest move

Follow us on Google Discover

Real Betis president Angel Haro has no regrets about rebuffing Nottingham Forest’s attempts to bring Alex Moreno to the Premier League, telling Estadio Deportivo that the offer on the ‘low’ side. 

Attack-minded, adventurous and blessed with an impressive ruthless streak in the final third – he produced ten goals and assists combined during an excellent 2021/22 campaign – Alex Moreno certainly looks like a footballer tailor made for a wing-back role in Steve Cooper’s 3-4-2-1 formation. 

According to The Telegraph, Nottingham Forest agreed a £9 million fee with Betis in early August. And though Manuel Pellegrini’s side were willing to sell for the right amount, there was palpable relief at the Estadio Benito Villamarin when Moreno opted to stay put, rejecting the bright lights of the Premier League. 

“I don’t regret that he didn’t leave. It was a low offer,” Haro explains. 

Alex Moreno rejects Nottingham Forest for La Liga stay

Barcelona are not the only La Liga club who have found it difficult to register new signings of late. Betis have found themselves in a similar situation due to the league’s restrictive salary cap. The sale of Moreno would not have helped much in that regard either; freeing up just £850,000 in Real Betis’ budget. 

“The limit (his sale would have) opened up for us was minuscule. One million euros,” Haro adds. “It seemed good to me that he will stay. I’m delighted to have him with us.”

Nottingham Forest would turn to another Spain-based wing-back in the final days of the window. Renan Lodi, the Brazil international, arrives on loan from Atletico Madrid with a £25 million option-to-buy clause in his contract. 

“I made the decision,” Moreno said, explaining why he opted to rebuff Forest’s advances. “I am at the club I want, (and) I am happy. 

“I’m very happy to be able to continue here. I had to talk to a lot of people. In the end, the conclusion was that the stability I have, and the ambition to keep growing at this club and keep winning things and aspire to more things (was enough to convince me to stay).”