Santiago Gimenez makes 'wow' transfer admission as Nottingham Forest bid discussed
Striker Santiago Gimenez has reflected on his decision to reject an approach from Nottingham Forest as a question mark continues to hang over his future.
The Reds had the Feyenoord front man on their list of targets last summer but didn’t manage to get a deal over the line. They now find themselves in the market for a forward again, with just a few days to go before the January window closes next Monday.
Gimenez says AC Milan were also keen on him in the summer but their last-minute bid was half of what Forest had offered. The Mexico international admits to being blown away by the Italian side’s interest - and they reportedly have their eye on him again as deadline day nears this time around.
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Recalling what happened last summer, he told the We Are Brave podcast (via Calciomercato): “I was continuing to improve, even if people and the media didn't want to admit it, but the statistics spoke for me. And there was interest.
“Then Nottingham Forest arrived - everyone knows it - and made an offer to Feyenoord. Feyenoord wasn't convinced by the idea and asked me what I wanted to do. I had other clubs who spoke to me and said they would also make offers for me.
“I could go to Nottingham but I risked losing the others. So I decided not to go and to wait and see what happened. In the following days, nothing happened. I was convinced that the right time had come to leave after two years in which I had won almost everything with the Feyenoord shirt.
“On the last day, Milan arrived, putting half of what Nottingham Forest had offered on the table and obviously the club said no, you cost us a great opportunity to earn money. Not with malice, of course, I understand the club's interests. I had to stay.
“Many situations like this have happened and I have learned to trust God blindly and today I am moving forward with the same energy. I know that God is keeping me here for a reason. It would have been a great opportunity, other opportunities will come, but when the Rossoneri called me I thought: ‘Wow.'"
Reports earlier this month indicated Forest were prepared to try their luck again for Gimenez before the winter window deadline, but a move to Italy seems more likely. According to Football Italia, Milan have already had an offer for Gimenez rejected this month as it was below Feyenoord’s €40 million (£33m) valuation. The 23-year-old clearly sees his future elsewhere, though, as he says his dream is to go to “one of the best teams in the world”.
“I believe in one very important thing, if you put it on the table, you put more pressure on yourself,” Gimenez said. “I want to be the Mexican footballer with the most goals. I will do everything possible to achieve that.
“I want to go to one of the best teams in the world. I won't say which one because otherwise it won't come true. I want to make history as a Mexican player.”
