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Nottingham Forest star told he’d have been left out of squad without £15m transfer
While a place in Nottingham Forest’s starting XI may be difficult to nail down, the £15 million summer signing is certainly better off at the Premier League outfit.
Because, had he stayed at 🎃his old employers, the latest high-profile arrival to join Nuno Espirito Santo’s ranks might have found himself spending the next few months watchin♉g on from the sidelines.
The question facing Nuno now, however, is when does he introduce Morato to the Nottingham Forest XI?
The phrase ‘if it ain’t broke’ comes to mind.
Nikola Milenkovic and the outstanding Murillo is a partnership showing serious promise at present. So much so that, after claiming a point at Brig🍷hton and keeping a clean sheet at Liverpool, it would feel a little self-defeating to split the pair up any time soon.
P💮atience, then, is indeed a virtue for deadline day arrival Morato.
Benfica president explains why Morato joined Nottingham Forest
The City Ground outfit snapped up the highly-rated defender – Morato was linked wit🍬h Tottenham Hotspur before joining Nottingham Forest – in the final few hours of the summer transfer ไwindow.
So far, the left-sided centrꦚe-back has played only 27 minutes🎐 of football for his new employers.
He came off the bench at Brighton on Sunday after an eye-catching cameo at Anfield, Morato helping to keep Fo꧙rest’s lead i🍷ntact as they delivered the first – and only – blow to Arne Slot’s near-perfect Liverpool record so far.
An impact substitute role is one Morato may have to get used to, as well. So l🧸ong as Milenkovic and particularly Murillo are performing so effectively, anyway.
But at least he can count on a place in Nuno’s matchday squad. That certไainly wasn’t the case at the Estadಌio da Luz.
Speaking to reporters th♎is week, Benfica presideꦬnt Manuel Rui Costa has confirmed that – if Morato had opted to stay in Lisbon – he would be the club’s fourth-choice centre-half at best.
“Morato was trained by us and gave us a lot,” Rui Costa explains. “Last year, he even played in another posit𓄧ion. But we have to do the math and everything🥀 has its meaning.”
Morato must oust Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic at Forest
Morato has fallen behind Nicolas Otamendi, Antonio Silva and Tomas Araujo in the 🔯pecking order. He even made more appearances as aꦕ left-back in 2023/24 than in his natural centre-half role.
“With Otamꦕendi staying, Antonio becoming established and Tomas progressing, we risked having Morato as the fourth central defender. And, sometimes, he wouldn’t even be called up [to be in the match🐈day squad],” Rui Costa, the Portugal icon, adds.
“We chose not to affect Morato’s career. The squad will ꧋have the tꦐhree central defenders, plus one from the academy.”
Nottingham Forest face Fulham on Saturday hoping to exte🅰nd their unbeaten start to the Premier League seasonౠ beyond the six-game mark.
With Nun🅰o confirming that Willy Boly is stepping up his recovery from injury, Morato may be at risk of finding himself fourth in the Forest pecking order too. At least ini✃tially, as he settles into life in English football.
Milenkovic has performed excellently so far. A stand-out at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Serbia stalwart Milenkovic has been likened to Manche𝐆ster United legend Nemanja Vidic for a reason.
HITC understands, meanwhile, defensive partner .
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were linked over the summer too, with Arsenal𒅌 🐠legend Ian Wright has been full of praise for Murillo’s sparkling performances as a ball-pl🐼aying centre-half with considerable promise.
“You know, he’s ꦿgetting to be one of my favourite players to 🍸watch, Murillo at the back for Forest,” Wright said on his podcast.
“He’s so g🐻ood, he’s so good on the ball. He’s passing out of defence, he’s very good.”