A return to European glory beckons. Nottingham Forest’s stunning ascent to third place in the Premier League has fans dreaming of Champions League nights, a feat not seen since 1980.
At the heart of this resurgence lies Brazilian defender Murillo. With a pivotal league match against Manchester United looming, Showmax sat down with Murillo to discuss his career and about life at Nottingham Forest.
You finished 17th last season, and now you’re up with Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea. Did you expect that evolution?
We knew how good we already were, and how good the newcomers were. The players from last season really gelled with the newcomers, and we were hoping to have a great season. It’s good to see that everything is working out, we’re happy with that. Now with this surprise, we need to keep it up so that better things come.
It looks like you’re having fun this season. It must feel great going toe to toe with such strong teams.
It feels great. When we’re on the pitch, we can see they respect us more. Now we know we’ve reached the point we’ve been looking for. That feels really great for us. Even more so because of the union we feel in the club, among all the players. I mean, all the players feel settled at the club, everybody jokes with one another, everybody talks to one another, and I think that’s paramount off the pitch, and we’re managing to bring that feeling to the pitch, and it’s working just right.
Apart from that important feeling, what do you think makes it work so well?
I think we’ve got Nuno’s [Espírito Santo] idea, which is the main thing. That relationship between players and manager is crucial to make things work. I think we’ve managed to understand what he’s passed on to us. Of course, with his intelligence and his staff who help out each of the players, no one is left behind, he’s with all of us. If he sees you fall, he runs to help you out. That connection is really solid, and that was crucial for us to reach this point.
When you say he’s with everyone, what do you mean?
I mean he cares for all of us, he wants everybody on the same wavelength. He looks like a tough man, one that really gives you the “hair dryer”treatment. I’d say it’s just the appearance. He is one of the funniest managers I’ve ever had, he jokes with everyone, loves a laugh. It’s always fun being with him and to listen to his stories. He’s a very cool, funny guy.
Now talking about you, when you were playing futsal, then at São Caetano, then Ecos and União Barbarense. Did you picture yourself reaching such a high level? To even be considered one of the best, perhaps the best in the Premier League?
I’m really glad about the moment I’m having, it’s been really rewarding. It shows how the hard work pays off. I knew I could dream big, but when you have God in your path, he takes you to places you’d never dreamed of. That’s what has been happening to me, so I am really glad and, God willing, this is just the beginning of many things, because I’m 22 years old, and if it’s up to me, I really want to achieve big things.
How was your childhood in São Paulo?
Wow … I remember I started football at six at São Caetano, but really it was at 10 at the football academy where I started properly. I send my love to Marcelinho and Sandra, because they were key to my growth, as a player and personally, from 6 to 16. I remember it like it was yesterday, when my late dad took me there. I lost my dad when I was 10. He took me there to try to take the first steps in my career. It’s very moving. It feels like yesterday, it’s still very memorable to this day.
You were raised in a family of Corinthians fans, right? Tell us about your passion for Corinthians. Did you watch them on TV every weekend?
Honestly, and I think I can say this now … some might think differently, but whatever. Until I was eight or nine years old, I was a São Paulo fan.
Are you serious? Did your dad know that?
He did. When Corinthians played São Paulo, and Corinthians would win most of the time, my dad used to make fun of me, and I would get angry and cry. I would run to my bedroom and lock myself in, really mad. Then I thought better after watching Corinthians beat Santos 3-1, when Ronaldo scored a chip at Vila Belmiro, over Fabio Costa. Wow … It’s a really great memory when he did that Panenka, I ran out of the bar I was at on our street. I went to my dad’s house. I took off my shirt and put on my Corinthians one. Then I went back to the bar. Everyone looked at me, the little kid, and I said, “from this day on I’m a Corinthians fan!” and everyone went mad. From then on, I had Corinthians in my blood.
So, could you say that Ronaldo did this?
Exactly, and after that goal I said, they’re a winning team, a team with a lot of guts and will to win. I thought in that moment that one day I wanted to play for that club. I wanted to really feel what Corinthians were all about. I was eight or nine years old. I remember saying to my dad, “dad, one day I want to play for Corinthians.”
It was your dad who took you to futsal, right?
Yes, when I was six.
What was that like, did they see you and think you had what it took?
Every Sunday, if I didn’t go to the mall with him, I’d be on the street or go to the court and would just be kicking the ball about. He must’ve seen me and said, “this kid has potential”. My dad was also an awesome footballer, in the neighbourhood we lived in everyone would say, “mate, you’re just like your dad, he was a defender in 11-a-side and a pivot in futsal same as you.” It was the same thing and everyone would say, “mate if you go for it you’ll make it, unlike your dad. ” Everyone said that, and even more so because I was left-footed.
How was your development in futsal? Were you always among the best?
Fortunately, I was always among the best. I started out aged six. When I was seven I joined a club called Ribeirão Pires, close to my home. I played for the U-7s and U-8s there because the coach, Marcelinho from São Caetano, took me. He had a connection so he took me there. I was there for U-7 and U-8 levels. At U-9 level I went to Palmeiras. Then aged 10, I moved on to 11-a-side, playing for Mercedes, and I think the club no longer exists, but that’s where I started 11-a-side, in Vila Formosa, a pitch at Flor de Vila Formosa.I started there, splitting my time between futsal and 11-a-side. I played for São Caetano’s U-11’s, then at U-13 level I played for União Suzano, then at U-15 I played for São Bernardo. I played futsal and 11-a-side during that time, letting 11-a-side take precedence over futsal. When I was 16 I went to Palmeiras and played futsal there, and 11-a-side at Fut Talentos. But in that year, I treated 11-a-side with less importance and played more futsal. The following year, my mum came to speak with me and said, “it’s decision time: pick futsal or 11-a-side.” I thought about it and said to myself, “I’ll stick with 11-a-side.” I forgot about futsal and focused on 11-a-side.
Why did you decide on 11-a-side? Did you think you could do more?
No, I was great at futsal. I could’ve been … It’s hard to talk about myself. I could’ve been one of the best pivots in Brazil. I scored lots of goals because I was great and talented. I scored a lot of goals, but I said to myself, “11-a-side can give me a better future.” I didn’t know and at that point, my heart was really torn. I put it in the hands of God and it turned out well. So, I sort of put futsal to one side and focused on 11-a-side. Then at U-16 level I played for União Barbarense along with Fut Talentos, where I was loaned to, but I was also featuring for União Barbarense. Then I moved to Corinthians and my story began there. I played for their U-17s, second year in the U-17s, and I went to the U-20s. I was there for three years at that age group, then, the first team.
During that time, did you have a difficult moment in which you said, “I’m not sure if it’ll work out.”
Thank God I’ve always had people around me who helped me. Of course there were moments where things went wrong and I thought “I’m not going to play anymore, I’m not going to do anything.” But this would be a Friday. And then after the weekend, on Monday I’d say “no, I can’t live without football,” and I’d feel better. I never thought about quitting, because it’s always been my plan A, my only plan. The only plan I ever had, because I always knew it was going to work out. From my perspective, it was always going to work out, right? No matter what. I remember one time, something Yuri, a father of my friend on my street, said… it was my birthday, he congratulated me and he said, “if you get to the end one day and it didn’t work out, you didn’t get to the end.” He said it to me and at the time I didn’t quite understand it, but then I thought, “well, if it hasn’t worked out it’s because the time hasn’t come yet, because when the time is right, it’s going to happen.” And that stuck in my mind, “if I get to the end and it didn’t happen, it’s not the end. ” Then Nottingham came in. So I went to Duílio, man to man, and said: “I want to go, mate. It’s my dream. I want to play. No one can take it from me,” and I did it.
How did you decide to join Forest when many other clubs were after you?
Yes, I knew about the clubs 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.” There was Napoli, I think Fiorentina, something from Torino as well, then Nottingham’s interest and offer, also Crystal Palace, and two more clubs I don’t remember.
And you wanted the Premier League?
I wanted the Premier League. I said: “If a Premier League offer comes, it’s my dream, the best league in the world.” Then Nottingham came in. So I went to Duílio, man to man, and said: “I want to go, mate. it’s my dream. I want to play.” Then we talked, and he said, “mate, you’ve been honest with me. We’ll see. If the offer’s good for both of us, perfect,” and it all worked out.
When you arrived, did you expect to be a starter in your first season, or have to battle for your spot?
I remember when I arrived, it was really tough, a very physical game, the players were strong, and I thought, “I’m going to struggle here.” Then we had a match against City, and I got dropped at the hotel. The coach told me, “you’ve been training and performing well, but to get up to speed, adapt, and gain the strength you need, it’ll take you two or three months to play.” I listened, nodded, and left, but in my head, I was like, “what? Two or three months? No way I’m waiting that long, no chance.” I remember deciding to speed up the process, training at the club and outside. I hired a personal trainer, which I think is essential for any athlete, training at the club and having a personal one to complement it. It’s essential for a top-level athlete, so I started training at the club. I’d arrive, then train with the personal one. I thought, “I need to improve. Improve outside, get stronger, more prepared, because on the pitch, quality is my thing. No one can take it from me,” And I did it. I think that was around October or September, I don’t remember. On the 1st of October, we were going to play against Brentford, and on the day of the game, the coach came and said I was going to play. I said, “I’m playing?”; he said, “Yes. Brentford is a team like this and that, and I need your quality, your long balls.” I said, “I’m ready for the game.” It was the same thing that happened at Corinthians: After I played, I never stopped. I used to say, “if the opportunity comes, I’ll play and I won’t stop.” That’s what I told my agents, “I’ll play and I won’t stop.” I’ve always thought that way, and thank God, for both clubs I played for, at the professional level, that’s happened.
What did it feel like scoring your first goal against Newcastle, your first as a pro?
It was madness. It was the last game before I joined the national team, and my agent said, “you have to score, to arrive in good form, feeling confident.” I said, “leave it with me. I’ll do it.” So I got on the pitch against Newcastle, and I started off the game feeling different, feeling very confident. I thought: “it’ll happen. I don’t know, I might get an assist and score.” That was that. Then, there was a foul, and, during the throw-in I remember they were all lined up like this, and, I was in the middle of the box, heading towards the far post. It was as if someone had pulled me and said, “no, head it toward the near post.” Then I said, “okay, I’ll go to the near post.” When I was about to hit the ball, I looked at Anthony [Elanga], and I thought: “he’s going to kick the ball towards the near post. I’ll go there. What if this works?” And that’s what happened. He delivered the perfect cross at the right angle and I just guided it into the net. I celebrated it as much as I could. I paid tribute to Dani [Danilo] with a little dance he wanted me to do, and, after that, I did my own celebration. I forgot to do the baby bump celebration for my daughter. My wife got furious with me. She said, “you did all the celebrations, but forgot the one that mattered the most!” So I told her, “there will be more goals. “I might not score them now, but I promise I’ll score them soon.” It was a memorable day for me.
You were then invited to play for the national team, after playing only 74 professional matches. What was it like joining the national team?
I think everyone dreams about it. Every Brazilian player at elite level dreams about playing for the national team, and, for me, it was no different. I’ve always been asked in interviews, “do you think you don’t have a chance?”. “Do you think you shouldn’t be in the team?” To which I’ve always said, “I’m calm, I’m at peace.” It’ll happen when it’s time. I’m ready, though I haven’t had the chance to play yet, but just being there is a huge step. It’s an incredible experience, playing with players I used to see only on TV or play with in the FIFA video game. The day-to-day is very rewarding, sharing the pitch with these players, and learning a lot from them.
You renewed your contract with the club until 2029. What are your goals now?
My goal is to achieve something nobody has ever done. I think there’s a quote that says: “If someone does something, I’ll do it too. And if nobody has, I’ll be the first one to do it.” I try to leave my mark wherever I go, so people can say: “Murillo was a great player. He’s played here.” I try to leave this legacy. I’m trying my best to get the team into the Champions League, to perform well in the Premier League, and to reach the level I know I’m capable of. It’s about playing my best for the fans who are always there showing their support, and, above all earning the respect of all the players and the club staff. That’s the main thing, when people see you and say, “not only was he a good player, but a great human being, a great man.” I think that’s the main thing.
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