Last week, Anderlecht goalkeeper Hendrick van Crombrugge admitted that – if Nottingham Forest were to renew their interest at the end of this season – he’d give a move to the City Ground a lot more consideration this time around.
Van Crombrugge turned down the chance to join Steve Cooper’s side in the January window. Since then, he’s been relegated to the bench, overtaken in the Anderlecht pecking order by the bright young thing that is Bart Verbruggen.
Emil Audero may know how Van Crombrugge feels. Though he, at least, could hardly claim to have been unaware of the potential pitfalls when rebuffing Nottingham Forest’s advances. His Sampdoria outfit were already bottom of the Serie A table in January and hurtling towards the second tier.
Will Nottingham Forest return for Sampdoria’s Emil Audero?
Audero, Football Italia say, would have joined Nottingham Forest on an initial loan deal; a £10 million purchase clause in his contract. His wages would have risen considerably too.
But there is more to life than money. Loyalty, for instance.
“I thought every effort was needed to get out of this situation,” Audero explained, demonstrating the sort of devotion and commitment that – if he wasn’t already – made him a hero in the eyes of these long-suffering Sampdoria supporters.
“I had an offer (from Forest). But I had to return the trust I received here. It was not right to leave like that.”
Now, if the one-time Juventus youngster does leave the Blucerchiati, he will do so with his head held high. Sampdoria’s relegation was finally confirmed earlier this month, but they’d have been done and down far earlier if it wasn’t for their talismanic shot-stopper.
Whether Nottingham Forest plan to renew their interest, meanwhile, only time will tell.
As things stand, both Keylor Navas and Dean Henderson – who are only on loan at the City Ground from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United – will return to their parent clubs. There is certainly still a place on the banks of the Trent for Emil Audero.
And Nottingham Forest at least know for certain that, if they sign Audero but find themselves in a battle for survival in 2024, this 6ft 4ins colossus of a goalkeeper will not be in any rush to leap into the nearest lifeboat.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
