Brandon Aguilera, a Nottingham Forest kid, has now shared a story from his time with Steve Cooper last season.
The Costa Rica international spent the first half of the 2023/24 season at the City Ground before joining Bristol Rovers on loan in January, where he scored twice in 12 League One outings.
Before leaving City Ground, Brandon Aguilera “never imagined” what happened at Nottingham Forest under Steve Cooper.
What Brandon Aguilera has said about Steve Cooper and Nottingham Forest
A lot has changed in the 20-year-old’s life since Nottingham Forest signed him from Alajuelense in July 2022.
The Naranjo native has progressed from relative obscurity to seasoned international, with 16 caps for Costa Rica, three of which came at the 2022 World Cup. He also made his Premier League debut against Brentford last season.
A few months before that debut, Aguilera made his Premier League debut on the bench for Nottingham Forest, as Cooper picked him to the matchday squad for the Reds’ 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking with La Teja, the attacking midfielder stated, “The Argentine Gonzalo Montiel and I were on the bench.” He was set to appear; Gonzalo had just arrived and was unfamiliar with the language, so Steve Cooper asked me to be his translator.”
“I never imagined that at 20 years old I would have a world champion as a partner, and then that he needed my help with the language, it is something that has marked me a lot during this time.”
To some, this may not seem like a big deal, but it obviously made Aguilera feel important at Nottingham Forest, and the Costa Rican clearly enjoys the opportunity.
Nuno Espirito Santo has a decision to make
It remains to be seen what Nottingham Forest will do with Aguilera this summer following his fantastic loan spell at Bristol Rovers, where he blasted Callum Hudson-Odoi away with one especially magnificent strike.
The teenager still has 24 months on his contract, which means the Garibaldi should be able to earn a substantial sum of money if he is sold, especially given his international experience and World Cup experience.
However, if Nuno Espirito Santo keeps Aguilera in reserve for the 2024/25 season, his worth would drop, therefore the Portuguese tactician must make a decision this summer.
