Nottingham Forest have got themselves a real star when it comes to Murillo.
The Reds scouted the Brazilian rigorously before choosing to part with £10.6 million to bring him to the City Ground in the summer of 2023.
It was anticipated that he’d be a player for the future, but after a few months of arriving, Steve Cooper thrust him into first-team action.
Forest beat Manchester City to sign Murillo and from the off it was easy to see why. The defender has been virtually ever-present since his debut, missing one game earlier this season against Everton.
Murillo was hailed by Alan Shearer at the weekend after Forest beat Manchester City 1-0 and now, he’s shared that interest was rife in him when the Reds made the move to sign him.
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Murillo names Premier League club he rejected to sign for Nottingham Forest
It might come as a surprise, but the answer to the above isn’t Manchester City. The champions weren’t forthcoming with an offer but another club did.
Murillo has told TNT Sports that Crystal Palace were keen and so too were a host of European clubs – including Fiorentina where Nikola Milenkovic was playing at the time.
“Yes, I knew that the clubs were interested in me, but I always made it clear: ‘It’s great, I’m happy with the interest, but the Premier League is my priority.’
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“There was Napoli, I think Fiorentina, something from Torino as well, then Forest’s interest and offer, also Crystal Palace came and two more clubs I don’t remember.
“I wanted the Premier League. Nottingham came in and I said ‘I want to go’.”
Murillo stats 2024/25
Murillo has been one of the standout performers during the current campaign and it’s hard to imagine him not winning another Player of the Year accolade.
Ian Wright has raved about Murillo previously, stating that he’d pay to watch him play based on his performances for the Reds.
Murillo stats 2024/25 – Premier League Total
Appearances 27
Tackles 42
Interceptions 26
Clearances 172
Who Scored Rating 7.03
Murillo was in fantastic form against Manchester City and right now, it’s hard to imagine him not strutting his stuff on Europe’s grandest stage at some point in the future.
In the here and now, Murillo has the Champions League on his mind and hopefully a few more strong performances can get the Reds over the line in that quest.