Murillo moved to Europe for the first time when he left Corinthians to join Nottingham Forest in August 2023.
Steve Cooper was then in charge at the Premier League club and the centre-back wasn’t initially considered by the manager.
The Brazilian had to wait until October 2023 to make his first appearance for Nottingham Forest. Since then, he has cemented his place in the Reds’ starting lineup and ended up making 32 starts in the league last season.
Murillo has extended his impressive form for the English club into this season, making 28 Premier League starts so far. ESPN in Brazil now had a chat with the defender to discuss several topics, including his time at Nottingham Forest.
The player reveals he found it complicated initially at Nottingham Forest and decided to take matter into his own hands after a chat with Cooper.
“I remember when I first arrived, it was very complicated. There was a lot of contact play, the centre-backs were very strong. I said: ‘Man, I’m going to suffer here’,” he said.
“I remember we went to the game against Manchester City, and I was cut at the hotel. The coach came up to me and said: ‘You’ve been training well, performing well, for you to get the rhythm, adapt, gain the necessary strength that you need to gain, it will take you two, three months to play’. I looked, listened and left.”
“I thought to myself: ‘Two, three months? No way I”m going to wait’. Then I said: ‘I’m going to speed up the process’.”
The 22-year-old gave an insight into what he did during that period to further improve his situation at Nottingham Forest.
“I started training inside and outside the club. I have a personal trainer, which I think is essential for any athlete,” Murillo explained.
“You train the first period with a personal trainer, outside, to train the second period, the complement you do at the club. It’s essential for a top-level athlete. I started training inside the club, I’d come in and train with my personal trainer.
“I started to evolve, I needed to evolve outside, get stronger, become more prepared, and I thought: ‘Quality is my thing on the pitch’. That’s what I did.”
The South American was at Corinthians for four years before joining the Premier League club. Murillo initially took time to settle in at the Brazilian club and then cemented once he was given an opportunity.
“It was the same thing that happened at Corinthians: after I played, I never left,” he added.
“When you’re always prepared, when the opportunity comes along, I always said: ‘I’m going to play and I’m not going to leave’, I told my agent. When I get the chance, I’m going to play and I’m not going to leave. I’ve always had that in the back of my mind. And thank God, for the two clubs I’ve played for so far in the professional ranks, that’s what happened [laughs].”
