In the fast-moving world of football management, where every post, comment, or remark can ignite controversy, Nuno Espírito Santo has once again found himself in the spotlight. The former Nottingham Forest manager reportedly made a post late last night that appeared to reference both Sean Dyche and the club’s ownership, only to delete it within minutes. Yet, the brief moment it was live was enough to stir massive discussion among fans and pundits alike — because, as many are pointing out, he’s not the only one to have raised the point.
According to screenshots circulating across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, Nuno’s post read:
> “Some people talk about discipline but don’t see what’s really going on behind the scenes.”
While the message was vague, many quickly interpreted it as a veiled reference to Sean Dyche, the current Nottingham Forest boss, and possibly the club’s owner. Dyche, known for his strict, no-nonsense management style, has recently been praised for bringing structure and authority to the dressing room after a turbulent period under Nuno. But behind that public narrative, tensions reportedly still simmer within the club hierarchy — and Nuno’s quickly deleted message has reignited the debate about what’s really happening inside Forest.
Sources close to the club suggest Nuno’s frustration may have stemmed from how his tenure was portrayed following his exit earlier this year. While Dyche has been credited with restoring discipline, several players and insiders have since suggested that Nuno had raised similar concerns long before — about player commitment, communication breakdowns with the board, and the inconsistency in transfer decisions. His brief post, they argue, may have been his way of saying, “I tried to warn everyone.”
It’s not just former staff or coaches who have questioned the current dynamic between Dyche and the ownership. Over recent weeks, several pundits — including ex-players and local journalists — have hinted that not all is smooth between the manager and the board. Dyche has reportedly pushed back against certain transfer policies, wanting more control over recruitment and player discipline, while the ownership remains intent on pursuing a more commercially driven strategy.
The deleted post from Nuno only added fuel to the fire. Fans have been divided in their interpretations. Some believe Nuno was taking a subtle jab at Dyche’s “holier-than-thou” attitude, suggesting that the issues at Forest go far beyond discipline. Others think he was calling out the ownership for hypocrisy — celebrating Dyche’s structure when the same standards led to conflict during Nuno’s reign.
One Forest supporter wrote online:
> “Nuno’s not lying. The club has been unstable for years, and they keep blaming the wrong people. Dyche will soon see it too.”
Another added:
> “If even Nuno’s making cryptic posts and deleting them, you know something’s not right behind closed doors.”
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Nuno has hinted at frustrations after leaving a club. During his time at Tottenham, he made similar indirect remarks about how “external influences” and “misunderstood priorities” affected his work. It’s part of why many think this latest post wasn’t a coincidence — rather, a moment of honesty that slipped through before he thought better of it.
Whether intended or not, Nuno Espírito Santo’s deleted message has reopened a conversation that refuses to go away: what’s truly happening inside Nottingham Forest under Sean Dyche’s leadership? The team’s recent inconsistencies, coupled with whispers of locker-room tension, make it clear that all is not perfect — and Nuno’s message, however fleeting, may have captured exactly that.
For now, both Nuno and Dyche remain silent on the matter. But among fans, journalists, and even former players, one thing is certain — Nuno may have deleted his post, but he’s far from the only person asking uncomfortable questions about the real state of things at Nottingham Forest.
