Nottingham Forest star Murillo is reportedly ‘open’ to the prospect of upping sticks and seeking a new challenge next summer, with Chelsea and Real Madrid circling for the defender.
Murillo has made 88 appearances in all competitions since joining Forest from Corinthians in a deal worth in the region of £15million back in 2023.
The Brazilian was given Forest’s Player of the Year award after an outstanding debut season and his partnership with Nikola Milenkovic proved central to the side’s success under Nuno Espirito Santo.
And while Forest’s fortunes have taken a turn since Espirito Santo’s dismissal in September, Murillo’s stock has remained high, with the 23-year-old thought to be among the most sought-after young centre-backs in English football.
But Murillo’s eye-catching performances over the last two-and-half years have not gone unnoticed amongst Europe’s elite and speculation is mounting that this season could be his last at the City Ground.
Get personalised updates on Chelsea every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
According to Daily Mail Sport, Murillo, now a full Brazil international, is keeping his options open and would not rule out the idea of leaving Forest for a ‘change of scene’ at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
Though Murillo and his family are said to be ‘settled’ in Nottingham, the allure of joining a club of the stature of Chelsea or Real Madrid could have the centre-half turning his head elsewhere.
Forest are unlikely to entertain any offers for Murillo in the January transfer window and it may take a bid well in excess of £55m – the fee Newcastle paid for Anthony Elanga – to capture the defender away next summer.
Recent reports suggested Forest could demand as much as £70m from potential suitors, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich also said to be amongst Murillo’s admirers.
Murillo’s current contract at the City Ground runs through to June 2029.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
In the past, Murillo has made no secret of his ultimate ‘dream’ to one day play Champions League football and challenge for major silverware on a consistent basis.
Murillo also confirmed that he had been the subject of ‘interest’ from Chelsea just last year.
But at the time, the former Corinthians man opted to turn down a proposed move to Stamford Bridge to continue his development with Forest.
‘I don’t know if it’s £70m, but I know there was a buzz of interest,’ he told the Benja Me Mucho podcast.
‘I had the dream of playing in the Premier League and I had that thought.
‘I thought: “I’ll go to Nottingham Forest, have a good year and then I’ll go to a big club”. I had that in my head.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.