Braziliant!
MUR THAN GOOD ENOUGH FOR CALL-UP
NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO admits even he was surprised to discover just how good Murillo is – but insists he can bide his time for a Brazil call-up.
The defender has been a revelation for Nottingham Forest since his summer arrival from Corinthians for a bargain £10million.
Forest, who visit Brighton today, are already braced for summer interest with Atletico Madrid among his admirers.
Survival will be key to Forest’s hopes of hanging on to one of their top assets.
And, while they are in no hurry to cash in, any future sale of the Brazilian would be expected to exceed last summer’s £47.5m club-record sale of winger Brennan Johnson to Tottenham.
Nuno says he has been a big plus and that Murillo is capable of a “very high level” from what he has seen since taking over the reins from Steve Cooper in December.
He said: “It was a nice surprise. I didn’t know him very well but since we have started working together I’ve been impressed by his quality.
“There are a lot of details he can still improve on but he has performed really well and I think he has all the characteristics to become even better.
“It was about continuing the work Steve was already doing with him and trying to raise his standards. We set him a very high level because I believe he can reach that.” New Brazil
BRIGHTON:
NOTTM FOREST:
REF: coach Dorival Junior has come in for flak in some quarters for failing to name the Reds centreback in his first squad – but Nuno is not one of those critics.
“Come on – the best thing we can do for Murillo is for everybody to keep our feet on the ground,” he said.
“He is 21 years old. He is doing really well but there is still a long way to go and a lot of things to improve.
“But the fact he is committed to improving is important.”
Forest are in desperate need of points to ease their relegation fears but Nuno has warned Brighton won’t be a soft touch, despite Thursday’s 4-0 thrashing by Roma.
“I know how hard it is to play in Europe and then play in the Premier League,” he said.
“But we are talking about a very good opponent.”