Barcelona keeping a close watch on Premier League defender pursued by Real Madrid

Barcelona are closely monitoring Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, according to a recent update from SPORT.

The player is reportedly on the radar of several top clubs, including Real Madrid and this comes after Chelsea and Juventus showed interest last summer, and Forest’s owner did not rule out a significant sale of the player.

Murillo has made a strong impression since his early days at Corinthians. He began 2023 in the Copinha, a youth tournament, before making a move to Nottingham Forest in August.

Since joining Forest, Murillo has continued to impress, playing 36 matches across the Premier League and the FA Cup in his first season.

In the current season, with Forest being one of the early surprises in the English top flight, he has been a regular starter, accumulating plenty of minutes in the team’s opening 11 games.

Barcelona have been monitoring him

Back in August, Barcelona were exploring options to strengthen their defence, a decision made at the request of manager Hansi Flick. However, the club faced financial constraints and could not secure a major signing.

Barcelona considered acquiring a more experienced centre-back, such as Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen, but their limited budget meant that they also looked into the possibility of loaning a Premier League player.

Despite not making a move for Murillo earlier, Barcelona continue to keep an eye on him as a potential long-term investment. The defender is left-footed, physically strong, and has shown courage and a strong ability to recover the ball.

His technical skills also stand out, particularly his ability to distribute the ball effectively. Murillo has even shown versatility, with the potential to play as a left-back if needed.

His development makes him a key candidate for a club like Barcelona, who are committed to investing in young talent for the future.