This summer, the Forest centre-back has been linked with a number of moves away from the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest have frequently resorted to signing players from South America since their promotion back to the Premier League, with the club doing clever business by signing them at low prices.
Players from Brazil and Argentina have been a big impact at the City Ground, with Danilo, Renan Lodi, and Nicolas Dominguez all outperforming expectations since their arrival to the East Midlands.
Danilo and Dominguez, in particular, will make the Reds a lot of money on their combined £28 million investment, with the Brazilian notching six goals for the club since his arrival in January 2023.
This summer, he was joined by a fellow countryman, centre-back Murillo, who signed for Corinthians for £13 million – a deal that will undoubtedly go down as one of the best in the club’s recent history.
The 21-year-old has played every Premier League game since his debut in October and has been linked with a £50 million move to Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid.
However, the club has the potential to match the deal for the teenager with another Brazilian defender in the summer.
Nottingham Forest could reignite interest in the Brazilian star.
According to Jornal de Noticias, via Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest will have the option to recruit Benfica centre-back Morato again this summer, with the 22-year-old’s future at the club “uncertain”.
Before Murillo arrived last summer, the Reds, then coached by Steve Cooper, made a £26 million deal for his talents, which was ultimately rejected by the Portuguese club.
He has appeared 21 times in Liga Portugal this season, mostly at left-back, but he is best suited as a left-sided central defender.
While it is unknown how much a contract would cost Forest this summer, he might serve as a fantastic replacement for Murillo if the bright youngster leaves for pastures new during the off-season.
Why Morato might be Murillo 2.0 for Nottingham Forest.
While no Forest supporter wants to lose Murillo during the summer transfer window, any move for the defender would result in a significant profit, aiding the club’s efforts to remain inside the Premier League’s PSR restrictions.
However, fans need not be concerned about the void he may leave in the Reds’ defence, since Morato is a more than adequate successor for the kid if he leaves the City Ground.
| How Murillo compares to Morato in 2023/24 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | Murillo | Morato |
| Tackles | 1.6 | 3.1 |
| Aerials won | 1.2 | 1.4 |
| Passes | 47 | 55 |
| Pass completion | 77% | 82% |
| Successful take-ons | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Progressive passes | 2.9 | 3.8 |
| Stats via FBref | ||
Murillo, on the other hand, has excelled with his ball-handling ability at the City Ground this season, pulling up passes that few players could anticipate. Despite his passing ability, he has yet to surpass Morato’s passing total, with the Benfica player completing 5% more passes and an average of eight more per 90 minutes.
Murillo is bound for the pinnacle of European football, with his ability nothing short of astonishing given his young age of only 21.
Forest fans will be keen to keep one of their best players, but given the club’s current financial predicament, departures are unavoidable, and the kid will surely be one of those sacrificed.
Despite losing a vital player after less than a year, the Reds can mitigate the loss by adding Morato this summer. The South American has the potential to prosper under Nuno Espírito Santo.
