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Since joining Nottingham Forest, Nikola Milenkovic has proven to be an exceptional addition to the team. However, before his arrival, he was aware of a significant challenge facing the club. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo has already highlighted Milenkovic’s importance to the team, despite his relatively recent arrival in the summer. Nuno particularly praised Milenkovic’s vocal presence on the field, expressing a wish that more of his Forest players possessed similar qualities.
Milenkovic’s impact has not gone unnoticed, with his performances catching the eye of many, including Chelsea fans who were impressed by both him and his defensive partner Murillo in a recent match. Interestingly, before making his move to England, Milenkovic had been watching Nottingham Forest games and had identified a major issue at the City Ground.
According to The Athletic, Milenkovic was a regular viewer of Premier League matches during his time in Italy, which gave him insight into the problems he was brought in to address at Forest. The primary concern he noticed was the team’s vulnerability when defending set pieces.
Since his arrival, Nottingham Forest has significantly improved its defensive record, now boasting one of the strongest defenses in the Premier League. Milenkovic has played a crucial role in this transformation, forming a formidable partnership with Murillo at the heart of the defense. This improvement has not gone unnoticed by his former club Fiorentina, who are reportedly missing his presence, though there’s no possibility of him returning.
The partnership between Milenkovic and Murillo is garnering attention, with some arguing that they currently form the best center-back pairing in the Premier League. Forest’s impressive defensive statistics lend credence to this claim. Murillo’s performances have already attracted interest from Chelsea, highlighting the quality of the defensive duo.
Forest’s acquisition of Milenkovic for just £12 million is increasingly looking like a bargain. His performances suggest that his value has likely increased significantly, possibly pushing towards the £30 million mark. This valuation becomes even more impressive when compared to his defensive partner Murillo, who reportedly has a price tag of around £70 million.
The success of Milenkovic at Forest underscores the club’s shrewd business in the transfer market. His awareness of the team’s defensive issues before joining, coupled with his ability to address these problems effectively, has made him an integral part of Forest’s improved defensive unit. As the season progresses, the partnership between Milenkovic and Murillo continues to solidify, potentially establishing them as one of the Premier League’s most formidable defensive pairings.
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