Exclusive: Former Nottingham Forest loanee Hildeberto Pereira on season at City Ground

Video: Hildeberto Pereira on his time at the City Ground. 

Former Nottingham Forest loanee Hildeberto Pereira says he ‘loves the club and fans’ who will forever remain close to his heart. 

The Portuguese winger, who can also play at right-back, scored twice in 22 appearances after signing on a season-long loan deal from Benfica.

But he was released by the Reds and has until July 3 to secure a move elsewhere before he heads back to his parent club. 

He was signed by the Reds’ former French manager Philippe Montanier and started the season at right-back in an attack-minded Reds side in the absence of Eric Licaj. 

But after Montanier was sacked in January and Mark Warburton joined in March, Pereira admits he found it hard to adapt to the former Rangers boss’ brand of passing football. 

He says he wants to stay in England, after meeting his girlfriend in Nottingham. 

In an exclusive Notts TV interview, Pereira chats about his time at the City Ground and hopes for the future.


“Before I came to Nottingham Forest I already knew they were a big club. My family from Portugal knew I was going to play for a big club [in Forest].

It was a big responsibility to play for Nottingham Forest. I hope Nottingham Forest can progress more from last season and get to the Premier League because they are a big club and I have a lot of love for Nottingham Forest.

It has been amazing because I wasn’t expecting too many fans to love me. Even if I change clubs I’m still going to have the love for Nottingham Forest fans.

The fans every day support me and contact me on Twitter and Instagram sometimes. My English is not good and my girlfriend has to translate their messages.

Mr Philippe gave me a lot of support and told me I was a player he needed for the team. I had a great time with the manager.

At the beginning of the season we started very well and in the middle of the season we sold players and had problems. But I still enjoyed working with Mr Philippe.

As a player I can adapt to all the positions. He [Montanier] used to like me at the back so I played at the back and was able to get more experience.

Of course I’d like to play down the middle, as the central attacking midfielder further forward.

I’m indifferent as a player, I can understand each position and develop on the pitch.

Hildeberto Pereira hopes to stay in England.

They are two different managers [Montanier and Warburton]. The new manager [Warburton] wants to play British football with plenty of one-twos.

It was a little bit difficult for me to adapt to his style of football because I’d played Montanier’s-style football even with Benfica. I didn’t have the time to progress.

As a player you don’t get too involved with the management. My focus was what was happening on the pitch for the team to progress and focus.

All the players told me not to focus so much on the change of manager or owner.

I hope to still play in England and stay close to my girlfriend. My girlfriend has supported in Nottingham.

I’m in love with the city and girlfriend, she’s from Nottingham and she’s pregnant and I want to stay.

She’s going to have my baby so now I have two homes: one in Portugal and one in Nottingham.

I’ve been to speak to a lot of clubs but I’ve not had answers from anyone. I’ve just been speaking to many clubs.

I can’t say anything now, I’m just waiting for a deal. If there’s one smaller club or a bigger club, I’ll go to the smaller club and play.

I’d prefer the smaller club to play and improve my skills. If I go to the bigger club I might not play – I’d lose my [performance] levels.

If I don’t have a deal by next month I’ll have to go back to Portugal because I have a contract with Benfica.”

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