Carlos Miguel has opened up about his brief spell in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest, admitting the lack of minutes pushed him to return to Brazil.
The 27-year-old spoke to ESPN Brazil during the awards ceremony for the 2026 São Paulo state championship, after helping Palmeiras win the title. Carlos Miguel joined the Brazilian club in the second half of last year following a short stint at Nottingham Forest.
Forest had signed him from Corinthians in 2024, but he only made three appearances in England. With limited opportunities available, the goalkeeper eventually opted to return to Brazil in search of regular football.
Speaking about that period, Carlos Miguel made it clear he never doubted his ability to compete at a high level.
“I know I can perform at the highest level. I left Brazil seen as a player who could reach the national team,” he said.
“The manager chose not to play me, which is his decision. Then the other goalkeeper became one of the best in the Premier League. I want minutes, and that’s why I ended up coming back here.”
Premier League competition explained
Although Carlos Miguel did not name him directly, his comments appear to refer to Matz Sels. The Belgian established himself as Nottingham Forest’s clear first-choice goalkeeper during that period and produced several strong performances in the Premier League.
As a result, opportunities for the Brazilian quickly became scarce. With Forest competing intensely in the league and prioritising stability in goal, Carlos Miguel found himself largely on the bench.
That scenario ultimately led him to pursue a move where he could play regularly.
Settling quickly at Palmeiras
Now back in Brazil, the goalkeeper says the transition to Palmeiras was smoother than expected. He had it rough at the start, but according to the goalkeeper himself, the reception he received helped him settle immediately at the club.
“It didn’t worry me when I got my first opportunity. Everyone embraced me and supported me,” he said. “I already had a lot of affection for the move before arriving. When I got here, everything happened in the best possible way.”
“I was welcomed by the fans and everyone at the club. Everything flowed very well so we could win this title, the first of many that will come”, he continued.
Carlos Miguel has now made 26 appearances for Palmeiras and was one of the standout performers in their title winning campaign.
Why the move made sense
The goalkeeper also addressed criticism he received during the difficult spell at Nottingham Forest, suggesting opinions often change once he gets the chance to play.
“People talk when I don’t play. When I do play, the tone changes,” he added. “There are journalists who root against you and say things. That’s part of football.
“Now it’s my moment, and their moment to congratulate me for the title and my great match. If they want to criticise, they can. I will show people that I’m not what they say.”
So of course Sels was performing well and the club had little reason to change their starting goalkeeper. But for Carlos Miguel, the lack of minutes created a difficult environment.
Goalkeepers rarely develop without consistent playing time, especially when they are aiming to push towards international recognition. He recently spoke about that as well.
A return to Brazil therefore offered a logical reset. If he continues performing regularly at Palmeiras, the move could help rebuild his momentum after a challenging spell in England.
