Callum Hudson-Odoi has played with some world-class talent in his career, but one who he thought would go on to great things has struggled since arriving at Nottingham Forest.
Forest paid just £3m for Hudson-Odoi in 2023, which even at the time felt like a brilliant piece of business by Evangelos Marinakis given the pedigree that the Englishman arrived with from Chelsea.
Nuno Espirito Santo has relied on the former Chelsea man heavily this season with Hudson-Odoi impressive for Forest against Newcastle despite the defeat, scoring the opener to make it four Premier League goals for the season.
His crucial role under Espirito Santo has seen Forest fans clamour for Hudson-Odoi to receive an England call-up.
Hudson-Odoi is no stranger to international football and has even played with Morgan Gibbs-White at the Under 17 World Cup in 2017, managed by Steve Cooper.
It wasn’t just Gibbs-White, though, as Hudson-Odoi once picked out an England teammate who eventually moved to Nottingham Forest to a level of stardom that he has yet to achieve.
Callum Hudson-Odoi had high hopes for Jonathan Panzo
After Jonathan Panzo made a loan move to Rio Ave in the summer, Forest fans could’ve been understood if they ruled out the defender ever making an impact at the City Ground, given that he’s only made a single appearance at the Reds.
However, Hudson-Odoi clearly rates the former Chelsea man highly and used his piece in The Player’s Tribune to give a nod to the forgotten Forest man.
Initially recounting his experience with Panzo at the Under 17 World Cup in India, Hudson-Odoi said: “By the way, that tournament? Man … India put on a party for that World Cup. You’ve never seen football like it. That World Cup had sellout crowds — like proper sellouts.
“I’m talking 60,000 in a stadium to watch teenagers kick a ball. India is amazing. They love football so much, and I hope we can run that tournament back one day for the senior teams.”
On the specific role of Panzo, he continued: “My best friend out in India was Jonathan Panzo. We came up through the Chelsea youth teams together, and he’d be screaming instructions at me during games, and I’d have no idea what he’d be saying.
“Panzo is a player, by the way. You should look out for him. Centre back. Funny as hell. Doesn’t have to say anything, but he’ll raise an eyebrow and have you rolling.”
Having not made any impact on the Forest squad, Hudson-Odoi’s prediction doesn’t look likely to come true in regards to Panzo, especially given how his time in Portugal has played out.
Jonathan Panzo hasn’t developed away from Nottingham Forest
Panzo will have hoped for a more productive loan spell away from the City Ground after consecutive loans to Cardiff City and Standard Liege garnered just 16 appearances for the defender.
The Belgian media weren’t impressed with Panzo at Standard, so a move to Marinakis-owned Rio Ave would’ve ideally kept him away from scrutiny to focus on playing regular football.
Unfortunately, though, Panzo picked up a knee injury in October which has kept him out of action until February, with his return to action somewhat disastrous.
Coming on as an 87th-minute substitute against FC Porto, Panzo was sent off in stoppage time to mark his return to football with a suspension. He has since returned from this suspension but has not seen a minute of action.
Hudson-Odoi will be hoping his friend returns to Forest with a chance to work his way into Espirito Santo’s thoughts, but Panzo’s third consecutive bad loan may be the end of his chances.
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