Murillo has been a regular for Nottingham Forest since joining them from Corinthians in August 2023.
The centre-back’s impressive performances for the Reds helped him receive a call up from Brazil in November but didn’t play for them that international break.
Dorival Júnior handed him his national team debut in Seleção’s 4-1 defeat to Argentina in a World Cup qualifier last month. The Nottingham Forest player was replaced after the break when the score was 3-1.
The Brazilian media and national team supporters were highly critical of the 22-year-old’s performance against the World Cup winners.
At the weekend, Murillo played the full 90 minutes in Nottingham Forest’s 2-1 league loss to Aston Villa. The defender had a chat with ESPN in Brazil, who asked about the criticism aimed at him after the defeat to Argentina.
“I ask people to follow a little more closely, because we can’t judge someone based on just one game. I think some criticisms should be thought through a little more before they are made,” he said.
“I think people need to follow a little more closely and see what I’m doing in the Premier League, what I was able to do to get to the Brazilian national team. When you get there, it’s because you’re having a good time. Thank God I’m having a great season, a great time, and I managed to fulfil my dream of getting there.”
Brazil have sacked Dorival Júnior and are yet to appoint a new manager. Murillo is aware the national team are going through a difficult phase and asked fans to support them to overcome this.
“People need to look at it with a little more affection, pay more attention, just like the Forest fans, who even with games that weren’t as good like today’s [defeat to Villa], we kept fighting until the end of the game, we almost got a draw,” Murillo explained.
“So, I think the Brazilian people have to look at things with a little more affection, and value the players they have. So that this situation, which is not so pleasant in Brazil, can be reversed, and I think that together we can make this better.”
It’ll be interesting to see how the Brazil fans or their media will react to the Nottingham Forest player’s comments, but he’s certainly correct in implying they were rash with their reactions.
