Murillo Santiago Costa dos Santos, better known simply as Murillo, is the Premier League’s standout defender who, after just one season in the elite of English football, has enamored some of the most important clubs on the old continent.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Brazilian footballer from Nottingham Forest is seriously interesting both Chelsea and Juventus, and this summer they are set to fiercely compete for the services of this promising 21-year-old defender.
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Today, at Sambafoot, we put the spotlight on Murillo’s 2023/24 season to understand why the biggest clubs in the world have taken notice of the footballer trained at Corinthians.
A Dream Start in the Premier League
Born in São Paulo, Murillo took his first steps in professional football with Corinthians. At Timão, the defender played a total of 27 matches, including 19 with the U-20 team. He also participated in the Sudamericana, Copa Libertadores, and a handful of matches in the Brasileirão when he caught the attention of Nottingham Forest, an English Premier League team.
In August 2023, Forest signed him until 2028 for 12 million euros. What was expected to be a signing to gradually gain experience turned into one of the fundamental pieces of the team that achieved survival, thanks to memorable performances from this young but formidable defender.
His name’s Murillo, and he’s your 2023/24 Player of the Season.
🇧🇷🏆 pic.twitter.com/XFlUgTw2QY
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 18, 2024
A Regular Starter at Nottingham Forest
After joining the team a bit late, in late August, Murillo struggled to secure a spot in the team’s call-ups. However, by matchday 7 of the 23/24 Premier League, the Brazilian was a starter against Brentford, playing all 90 minutes and being key to maintaining a 1-1 draw.
From that moment on, October 1, 2023, Murillo never missed a single match with Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. He played a total of 32 out of 35 possible Premier League matches and also appeared in four FA Cup matches.
According to Transfermarkt data, Murillo played 89% of all possible minutes with Forest in the Premier League, highlighting his importance from the start.
MVP of the Season
Nottingham Forest ended up securing their season towards its end. Poor performances from Luton, Burnley, and Sheffield allowed them to ensure their stay a bit earlier. Knowing Murillo’s importance in this achievement, the club named him the Best Player of the Season.
Why Are Chelsea and Juventus Convinced by Murillo?
Murillo is the type of young footballer who, despite his age, seems to have years of experience at the highest level of world football. At just 21 years old, 1.83 meters tall, and with a quite skillful left foot, Murillo established himself as one of the best defensive players in the Premier League.
According to SofaScore data, Murillo is a footballer who tends to average excellent statistics in recoveries and duels won. Additionally, his good left foot allows him to break lines and contribute to ball distribution.
Murillo’s Defensive Stats in the 23/24 Premier League
- Clean sheets: 3
- Interceptions per match: 1.2
- Tackles per match: 1.6
- Recoveries per match: 4.6
- Clearances per match: 5.8
- Average touches per match: 59.8
- Penalties conceded: 0
