'Full of confidence': Sky Sports pundit thinks 'class' star is the best defender at Nottingham Forest

Today at 03:32 AM

Nottingham Forest go to Brighton this afternoon looking to continue an unbeaten start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign after last weekend’s 1-0 win at Anfield.

Following that victory against Liverpool, expectation levels have increased. However, Brighton are also unbeaten and a tough game looks in store for Forest today.

Nuno Espirito Santo will be keen to attack the game today and will have devised another meticulous game plan for his team to adhere to.

Forest have some real quality in the squad right now and after a positive recruitment drive in the summer, there is no reason for any team to be feared in the Premier League.

• READ MORE: Nottingham Forest predicted XI vs Brighton

Kris Boyd raves about Nottingham Forest star Murillo

After last weekend’s game against Liverpool, Milenkovic has been earning rave reviews for his performance against the six-time Champions League winners.

He signed for £12 million from Fiorentina in the summer and Adam Summerton can’t believe that Forest managed to get Milenkovic for that money.

However, former Forest loan star Boyd believes that Murillo is the real star attraction at the back – despite admitting that he does rate Milenkovic as well.

He told Sky Sports News (21/09; 13:13): “I think Milenkovic has done well, but for me, the main reason Forest are doing so well right now is Murillo, his centre-back partner.

“I think he came for £10 million from Corinthians a couple of years ago. He is only 22 years of age as well.

“He has got to develop, and I think when you look at him, he's developing into a top-class defender for me, full of confidence.”

Forest have done seriously well to keep Murillo

With vast interest from the big six in the Premier League, it seemed as though Murillo would leave Forest this summer.

However, the Reds stood firm on a £70 million valuation and that is a testament to the owner of the football club.

Evangelos Marinakis isn’t going to accept making up the numbers at the City Ground and he wants Forest to be back among the established group of Premier League clubs.

Murillo will almost certainly play for a top team at some point during his career but in the short term, Forest looks like the best club for his development.

The Reds will give him the chance to play regular football and right now, he’s simply adding more value to the transfer fee that Forest will eventually command for his services.

Murillo is a top player and with Milenkovic alongside him this season, it’s frightening just how good he could become in the future.