The Rams midfielder left Pride Park to seal a loan move to League Two Salford City.
Paul Scholes has revealed how he and fellow Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs persuaded Derby County midfielder Tyrese Fornah to do a U-turn and join Salford City.
Fornah’s future at Pride Park is uncertain as he joined the League Two team on a season-long loan last month despite expressing a wish to depart. The former Nottingham Forest player was on the point of signing for a League One club in the south but changed his mind, so he moved north.
And that was influenced by Salford co-owners Scholes and Giggs, as well as manager Karl Robinson, who all spoke with the midfielder to secure his signing – and it worked.
Speaking on The Overlap’s YouTube channel, he said: “I always think it’s best to go straight to the player at any point. You can get his number, get some recommendations. You know what he’s like as a lad, what he’s been like as a player at the football club and then go straight to him. I think the player seems to appreciate that as well.
“We signed a player from Derby last week. I believe all three of us, including the manager, called him, as did Ryan [Giggs]. I called him, and he was in another club.
“He called us there and said no, I’m sorry. I’m signing with this team down south, and we’re all devastated. But he signed for us. He went down to another club and changed his mind.”
Fornah has made three appearances and has yet to lose. Last night, they defeated MK Dons 1-0, with Francis Okoronkwo scoring the game’s only goal.
When asked about Fornah’s decision to leave Derby, head coach Warne remarked, “We enabled it to happen, and I am hoping to sign another midfielder anyway.” “I always want individuals that want to be here. If they are not on the squad, join the team.
“That’s the mentality I want. But for some people who are at certain stages of their career, like somebody who is 32, they may want to play every week so I get that. But Tyrese made it clear to me that he wanted to go and in the end, I don’t want people here under duress.”