Nottingham Forest summer signing Orel Mangala has been described as a player with 'big potential' by his Belgium national team manager Roberto Martinez, according to a text read out by Darren Fletcher on the Garibaldi Red Podcast .
The 24-year-old came on for the final quarter of an hour against Newcastle United to make his Premier League debut on the opening weekend at St James' Park, replacing fellow new arrival Lewis O'Brien in midfield. That was the first sighting of Mangala for the Reds since signing from Stuttgart for a fee of around £13.7 million.
Martinez handed the Brussels-born midfielder his international debut in their March friendlies as a late substitute against the Republic of Ireland and that was followed up by a further cameo three days later against Burkina Faso at Lotto Park in his home city. The former Everton manager's verdict on Mangala swapping Stuttgart for the City Ground has now been shared, courtesy of Fletcher.
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest dealt transfer blow as target breaks silence on 'important offer'
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest 'agree' £9m fee for 13th transfer as medical 'scheduled'
"He said," Fletcher reads on the Garibaldi Red Podcast , "'very interesting player, Orel. He was our best performer for the under-21s in Italy (at the European Championship) in 2019.
"'Good engine, good steady effect in the game. His best position is as a box-to-box midfielder.
"'Good technical ability and great temperament on the pitch. Top team player, big potential, intelligent signing.'"
Fletcher continued: "Now that's a difficult international team to get into. If you've got the manager at that level saying, ‘look, this is the guy that you've got,’ that really should make Forest supporters feel good about what the future may look like.
"It might take him a little bit of time to settle in because he's at a new club and a new country, but that I think is a glowing endorsement of one of the new boys that Forest had brought in. I felt better when I read it anyway. And then when I saw him yesterday, I thought, 'yeah, he looks alright.'"
What do you make of Martinez's verdict? Have your say in the comments...
READ NEXT:
Nottingham Forest late transfer bid rejected as Everton win race to sign PSG star
Nottingham Forest 'continuing' talks over next transfer after Newcastle defeat
Nottingham Forest 'make offer' for winger amid Arsenal and Man United transfer interest
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher make Morgan Gibbs-White point after Nottingham Forest bid
