Brice Samba has explained what Joe Worrall told him when he first joined Nottingham Forest in 2019.
The goalkeeper joined the Reds from Caen as an unknown quantity and left as a City Ground cult hero.
Samba made the decision to leave Forest after he’d been integral in Forest returning to the Premier League.
The 29-year-old joined Lens and in his first season at the club, he helped them qualify for the Champions League.
Samba explains what Worrall said to him after signing for Forest
Initially, Samba was expected to provide cover for Arijanet Muric who had signed for Forest on loan from Manchester City.
However, the Kosovo international proved calamitous and it wasn’t long before the Congo-born stopper was called upon.
Samba had high hopes with Forest from the moment that he waltzed into the City Ground and he’s recited a conversation with Worrall.
He told L’Equipe: “Unquestionably when I arrived in England, I tell the guys: we’re going to go up.
“Joe Worrall, the current captain, said to me: ‘Do you know how long it’s been since we went up? We’re cursed’. I replied: you will see with me, it will be different.
“I always had this thing in the back of my mind, I wanted to experience something strong. This is the reason why in this match, I transcended myself. I had spoken, I had to take responsibility.”
The game he was referring to was obviously the second leg of the play-off win against Sheffield United.
Forest lost 2-1 on the night but Samba saved penalties from Oliver Norwood, Conor Hourihane and Morgan Gibbs-White to send the Reds through.
Forest losing Samba was hard to take
This was such a shame following promotion to the Premier League.
It was claimed that a contract dispute took place, although the chance to play for one of the top teams in France is likely to be the real reason.
He’s certainly been justified in his decision to leave Forest.
Samba has gone from strength to strength and after helping Lens qualify for the Champions League, he’s captained them in the competition.
Furthermore, Samba has now become an international player after pledging his future to France.
He collected his first cap for Les Bleus when he played against Gibraltar and he recently played against Greece too.
Samba is one of those players that will forever be etched into the memory of Forest supporters.
He’s a truly wonderful goalkeeper and recently Samba was named in the tenth-best goalkeeper in world football.
Forest have been forced to move on after Samba chose to depart.
However, that won’t stop supporters from wondering what might have been had he remained at the City Ground.
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