Murillo becoming the first £100m defender!? How possible

Murillo Santiago Costa dos Santos seems like the perfect player with a bit of every necessary skill. He majors as centre-back for Nottingham Forest. The young sensation joined the team from Corinthians for £10 million ($12 million) in summer 2023.

His performance has gained attention from top clubs in Europe. Teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool are reportedly interested in him. Murillo has become a fan favorite due to his exciting playstyle and commitment on the field.

Nottingham Forest fans love his South American flair. He balances offensive runs with strong defensive skills. His ability to make brave tackles makes him a valuable player. Chelsea tried to sign Murillo but had their bid rejected. Liverpool is also keeping an eye on him. If he transfers, he could become the first defender to be valued over £100 million.

Quizzed on whether Murillo is destined to be a record-breaking £100m ($124m) star, Forest legend Stan Collymore, speaking in association with William Hill Vegas said: “He could be. There are clubs watching him. From a personal perspective I would love to see him stay at Forest for the next three, four, five years. He’s signed his new contract.

“Obviously with the season that Forest are having, it is going to be very difficult to keep hold of players. He has got a bit of everything. It’s a strange one really because he doesn’t look like a central defender at all.

He’s not the tallest, he’s fairly ungainly in the way that he moves around, but he’s a bit of a throwback in terms of liking to defend, likes to get touch-tight with players and get physical and he anticipates things well.”

“He may well go on to become the first £100m defender, which for Forest would be an incredible deal if it came. My hope is that he stays for another two or three years.”

Collymore, who was a great instrument in helping Forest to a third-place Premier League finish in 1994-95 season added: “Whatever happens this season, it will be difficult to hold on to third – Chelsea winning.

[Manchester] City should pick off most teams, Newcastle, if Eddie Howe is going to keep his job then they need to have a good last third of the season. It is going to be tough for Forest to stay in the Champions League places, albeit not impossible.

“If they did, there is no good reason for them to sell whatsoever because they can offer Champions League football. The questions arise if Forest had been in the top three or four most of the season and then didn’t quite get there – in what will be a difficult run-in for all clubs.

Then you might start to look at the Real Madrids for Murillo and Manchester City who have been mooted for Morgan Gibbs-White, saying at the end of the season ‘we can offer you Champions League football’. But I hope that’s not going to be the case.

“A fantastic defender, a fantastic season and really good to see Forest picking teams off. Long may it continue.”

In the 2023-24 season, Murillo was named Forest’s Player of the Season. He scored his first goal for the club in a Premier League match against Newcastle. Murillo’s impact is clear as he continues to impress fans and coaches.

Next, Nottingham Forest will play Exeter City in the FA Cup fourth round. This match will provide another opportunity for Murillo to shine and attract even more attention. The fans are eager to see what he will do next.