When Steve Cooper named Murillo in his Nottingham Forest team to face Brentford it felt like a gamble.
The Brazilian had been impressing in training since his summer move to the City Ground, but it still seemed a bold call to make in an important game. Even more so as his inclusion came as part of a reshuffled back line which also saw Moussa Niakhate switched to left-back.
Murillo hadn’t even been on the bench for the Reds prior to that match. He was young and had been in England little more than a month. Surely it was a risk? He was very highly rated when he put pen to paper for Steve Cooper’s side, but could he really be that good straight away?
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Well, how wrong can you be?! He really is that good.
There is no doubt the 21-year-old is a superstar in the making. He has made adjusting to the Premier League look easy in his first couple of games, with a nervy opening few minutes against the Bees already long since forgotten.
Confidence oozes from him. As does class. He has got absolutely bags of quality and ability.
He is obviously a very good defender, too. The eye-catching runs and shots might be what attract headlines, but the tackle he made on Keane Lewis-Potter and the goal-line block he made on his debut are just as much a part of his game as pinging passes.
The centre-back is still a little rough around the edges. But that is the exciting part – that he can get even better. He has so much potential.
“I won’t dampen them, but I will be realistic,” was his response. The Reds head coach is keen to ensure the youngster continues to work hard and focuses on improving further.
Cooper knows a thing or two about working with young players. He has also spoken about how the experience of Danilo last season guides his work this time around, with the midfielder having needed time to find his feet and sometimes being in and out of the side early on.
Murillo may well go on to have ups and downs this term, or he could continue on a linear upward curve. However his progression pans out, though, it is clea
