- Murillo was key for Nottingham Forest in the draw against Wolves
Europe’s best young defender could be relegated at the end of the season, but Murillo is heading to the Champions League, not the Championship.
Nottingham Forest’s Brazilian centre-back has been a shining light in an enormously difficult season for the club, which is on a knife’s edge.
With a point lead over Luton and with games against fellow struggling Everton, Burnley and Sheffield United to come, at least Forest’s future is in their hands. They are also appealing against the four-point deduction for violating spending rules that has gotten them into trouble.
However, with Murillo in the lineup, Forest will feel much better. When he beats a rival attacker for the umpteenth time, fans shout: “You’ll never beat Murillo!” – just as they did with Des Walker, one of the best Forest centre-backs of modern times.
The forests need to be sold this summer to ensure they escape further punishment next season, while the profitability and sustainability (PSR) vultures circle. Murillo is worth at least £50million in the current market and has Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle watching him closely, as well as Paris St Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo has been the shining light during a difficult season
The Brazilian seems destined for the Champions League with Europe’s best clubs circling
Murillo is built like a rugby league player, but his feet are as light as a ballet dancer’s. He can defeat an attacker with speed, strength or skill. His clearance to deny Joao Gomes in the first half – a header close to his own line to prevent a certain goal – was one of the highlights of Forest’s season.
All this leads to Forest paying £15 million to Corinthians last August, after Murillo had made just 13 professional starts, one of the club’s best deals in an era of chaotic transfer spending. Murillo has logged more than 5,500 minutes in senior games over the past 12 months, putting him near the top of the tree among players 21 and under.
Forest have good links with top agents in Brazil such as Giuliano Bertolucci, which paved the way for Danilo to join the club from Palmeiras in January 2023. Impressed by how Danilo developed under former boss Steve Cooper, representatives from Murillo were happy to see him move to the City Ground too.
Even before Murillo made a first-team appearance, Cooper could see that he was special in the early training sessions and although there is still a rawness to his game at times, Murillo’s career is going in one direction. There are clear similarities with his Brazilian compatriot, Real Madrid centre-back Eder Militao, and it would not be a surprise to see them one day as teammates in the Spanish capital.
For now, Murillo must help Forest stay flying and this was a huge missed opportunity for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team. After falling behind thanks to a spectacular goal from Matheus Cunha, one of four Brazilians in the starting line-ups, Morgan Gibbs-White and Danilo scored either side of half-time to put Forest in front. But then Cunha equalized after poor defending from a corner – the 22nd goal Forest have conceded from a set piece this season.
The event about Danilo, on the right, had encouraged Murillo’s representatives to agree to a measure
Wolves are likely to have to sell again with Joao Gomes among those expected to have suitors.
Wolves are in a much happier place than the forest. Although their European challenge is fading amid an injury crisis, Gary O’Neil’s men are in no danger of relegation – something any Wolves fan would have accepted after a worrying off-season last year, in which Coach Julen Lopetegui left less than a week earlier. the season started.
But this can be a difficult summer. Like most clubs, Wolves must be wary of PSR and will need to sell again – Gomes will have suitors, as will Cunha and Pedro Neto, although the latter’s injury problems may affect his price.
O’Neil only had 12 veteran outfield players available for this game and reiterated his desire to have a stronger team next season. But how do Wolves make this happen with such limited room for maneuver in the transfer market? The 40-year-old will be offered a new contract at the end of the campaign and this will surely form part of the discussions.
