Murillo: It was the forest that made me a man; the goal was to enter the European Championship with the forest

Hupu August 11th Nottingham Forest central defender Murillo accepted an exclusive interview with TheAthleticUK.

"I had the best time of my life in Nottingham," Murillo said during the training breaks on the sunny Portuguese hills near Faro.

"I proposed to my wife and got married. I found myself about to be a father. I was baptized and dedicated my life to Jesus. My daughter was born. All this happened in just three years.

I spent the best three years of my life in Nottingham and I am forever grateful. I am closely connected with Nottingham Forest.

I have a deep affection for the fans and hope they I can feel my love too. I was a boy who was unconscious when I came here, and I am really mature now. I think football requires you to mature quickly. I am very happy to be here and to grow from the original teenager to the real man today. "The deep connection between Murillo and the Forest team was fully reflected when he and his wife Marbilly Coradlow planned to hold a party at the city stadium in December 2024.

"I have told my wife that I want to do this, we both have the same idea, and we are very happy to have this opportunity. I am now the father of a lovely daughter (Serena) who I miss very much now (in Portugal).

I feel that we have a deep connection with this place. The most important thing in my life is the arrival of my daughter, who is part of us who came to this world, and it is also an opportunity for God to let us witness the birth of the next generation. And I have successfully done this in the forest - the club I represent and love - which makes me feel even more special.

Murillo and the forest... are very, very good, and I hope this relationship lasts for a long time."

Murillo faced a difficult choice when he was a teenager.

"In Brazil, when we were 16 years old, we had to decide whether to play futsal or continue to play regular football. It was very difficult for me to give up futsals.

But I ended up choosing 11-a-some football as the direction of my career. Thank God, everything went well, and that's why we are talking about it here now.

But futsals taught me a lot, mainly discipline. The sport is faster and you need to be involved in the game. Every link, and it requires a lot of movement.

I think it really helps my style. Nowadays, I bring a lot of the characteristics of futsals to the court, like the way I control the ball, and moving the ball from one side to the other. I do a lot of this in futsals, and it's hard for me to give up because it's already in my blood, as if it's naturally in my blood."

Murillo is very happy when it comes to players who can create brilliant moments. After meeting with Forest owner Marinakis, Forest's central midfielder Gibbs White - who was a transfer target for Tottenham Hotspur - was convinced to sign a new contract.

"We (the players) are really happy. Not only is he already an excellent player, but we know he has the ability to be one of the best players in England - he is already. We see this every day, people see it in games, and I see it in training. I think, he is a great father, a good friend, a good son, and everyone in the club loves him. He is a great guy - they are about to welcome their second child and we wish them all the best.

He is an outstanding player and we will miss him very much if he leaves. The best thing is that he solved this problem, sat down and discussed it. He found a solution, and is here now, so we are so glad he was with us and I believe we will have a great season together."

However, preseason is more than just fun. Watching the players get tested in the Algarve sunshine is a very hot job in itself. But players need to stay in their best shape to meet the challenges of European football.

"We understand the history of the club - two-time Champions League champions. Our players always want to make history, and wearing the Forest jersey makes us understand the need to do so.

If you have the opportunity to play in the Champions League, we will compete with the championship mentality. If we participate in the UEFA Cup, we will also be eager to win the championship.

We have the foundation of a very good team, and maybe more players will join. I believe we will compete in many ways.

Our main goal is to advance to the Champions League and let the fans regain that joy. I really enjoy every moment. I am really happy. I am comfortable here, wearing the Forest jersey, playing for a great club that I am proud of. I enjoy life in the best way with my family."