Prior to his move to the City Ground, Orel Mangala was a name that very few Nottingham Forest fans would have recognised. However, after just three games into Forest's first Premier League campaign in 23 years, he has already made an immediate impact with the players, manager and fans on Trentside.
Mangala joined the club from Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart in a deal worth €15 million (£12.7 million) after turning down the chance to join West Ham Unitedand Crystal Palace.
Fellow new signing Dean Henderson spoke to talkSPORT just a couple of days after the club completed the deal for the Belgian midfielder, and the Manchester United loanee was full of praise for the 24-year-old:
"I don't want to speak too soon, but I think we've got a gem. I think he's unbelievable and I can't wait to get working with him. He wants the ball, he's quick and he's powerful, he's got everything."
Goalkeeper Henderson isn't the only one who has recognised Mangala's talent, with the Forest fanbase already producing a chant for the Reds number five, to the tune of Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel.
Settling in well...
Mangala was brought into the club by boss Steve Cooper to add competition in the midfield area. The former Stuttgart man offers a different dynamic to the other options in that area, due to his ability to effectively break up the play, and carry the ball into the attacking third, fitting into Cooper's philosophy of quick counter transition football.
Since making his debut off the bench away at Newcastle United on the opening day, Mangala has excelled in his new role alongside another summer signing in the form of Lewis O'Brien.
In his first three appearances for the club, the box-to-box midfielder has played 155 minutes. The Belgian international was restricted to just 15 minutes in the North East and was unable to make any sort of impact. However, it was at home in the victory over West Ham, where the Forest faithful were able to see the true quality Mangala possesses.
Playing against two high-quality international midfielders in the form of Declan Rice and Tomáš Souček on a full debut for your new club poses quite a challenge, but it was no problem for Orel Mangala.
The midfielder completed 20 passes, with a pass accuracy of 87% during his 84 minutes on his home debut at the City Ground. He also impressed defensively, winning three duels, with one interception and one defensive recovery.
The new fan favourite continued his brilliant start to life in Nottingham, with a superb performance against Everton.
Mangala's work ethic and defensive brilliance were on show again, which allowed for reduced pressure on the Reds goal to avoid a repeat of the opening day.
He excelled throughout and was at times the best player on the pitch, however, due to his tenacious nature he was replaced by the returning Ryan Yates due to what boss Cooper stated was "just fatigue".
His defensive performance really caught the eye once more, with four successful duels (one aerial), two successful tackles and eight completed recoveries of the ball.
What's Not To Love?
Despite only being at the club for a matter of weeks, Mangala has made a good impression with the Forest fanbase. His likeability and infectious personality are just two of the characteristics he possesses as demonstrated in a TikTok on the club account after his arrival was confirmed:
His Nottingham slang might not be perfect just yet, but his performances on the pitch certainly have been.
Playing alongside O'Brien has allowed Mangala to have the freedom to roam, allowing him to play to the strengths of his ball carrying, whilst still showcasing his defensive abilities.
The €15 million pound man is undoubtedly a very talented and hard-working box-to-box midfielder, who works tirelessly for his teammates as displayed in his first few outings for the club.
The arrivals of Remo Freuler, from Atalanta, and Cheikhou Kouyaté, have allowed for added competition in central areas. However, after his recent performances, it is arguably Mangala’s spot to lose.
Regardless of the fact only three games have been played in the new campaign, the midfielder has really caught the eye, and should he stay fit and replicate the performances produced against the Hammers and the Toffees on a consistent basis, the club will have a real top-quality midfielder on their hands.
The sky is the limit for Orel Mangala, remember the name.