Nottingham Forest were offering Alex Moreno a pay rise at the City Ground before the Real Betis left-back turned down a move to the Premier League, as reported by The Athletic.
In early August, Steve Cooper’s play-off winners came within touching distance of securing Moreno’s signature. Nottingham Forest agreed a £9 million fee with Real Betis, per The Telegraph. That was until the former Espanyol flyer got cold feet, backing out of the arrangement almost at the eleventh hour.
“I made the decision,” Moreno said, explaining why he eventually decided 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).”
Nottingham Forest missed out on Real Betis left-back Alex Moreno
According to The Athletic, Nottingham Forest offered Moreno a substantial pay-rise in the East Midlands. But, having recently turned 29, a left-back at the peak of his powers was happy to put sporting prospects over the financial implications, committing himself to a Real Betis side who have made big steps forward since the appointment of former Real Madrid and Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini.
Los Verdiblancos secured European qualification last season, while putting an end to a two-decade long trophy drought when beating Valencia in the Copa del Rey final. Moreno hasn’t missed a single minute of football so far in 2022/23 either; Real Betis sitting just three points adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
“I don’t regret that he didn’t leave. It was a low offer,” adds Betis president Angel Haro. “It seems good to me that he will stay. I’m delighted to have him with us.”
Nottingham Forest eventually signed Atletico Madrid’s Brazil international Renan Lodi instead.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
