"Am I a fraud?" – Player thanks director for helping him escape Nottingham Forest nightmare

Badé reflects on his failed Nottingham Forest loan, crediting Sevilla director Monchi with rescuing his career after he failed to make a single appearance for the Premier League side.

Loïc Badé has opened up about his disappointing spell at Nottingham Forest, where he arrived on loan from Rennes in September 2022 but failed to make a single Premier League appearance under Steve Cooper. The centre-back was included in just one matchday squad and never featured, leaving him questioning his abilities.

Badé told Estadio Deportivo that the experience was deeply damaging. "When you're not playing, when you're not in the squad and you're much younger, it's very tough," he said. "You do everything to play football: try to eat well, sleep well, do everything right, train hard and, in the end, when you don't play, those are moments that really hurt."

The French defender credited Sevilla director Monchi with turning his career around by signing him on loan in January 2023. Badé impressed in La Liga, won the Europa League with Sevilla that season, and the club made his move permanent. He has since joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2025.