Carlos Miguel has opened up about his brief stint in the Premier League with Nottingham ForestAdmitting that the lack of minutes prompted him to return to Brazil.
The 27-year-old spoke espn brazil During the awards ceremony of the 2026 São Paulo State Championship, after helping Palmeiras win the title. Carlos Miguel joins Brazilian club After a short stint at Nottingham Forest in the second half of last year.
Forest signed him from Corinthians until 2024, but he made only three appearances in England. With limited opportunities available, the goalkeeper ultimately opted to return to Brazil in search of regular football.
Speaking about that period, Carlos Miguel explained that he never doubted his ability to compete at a high level.
"I know I can perform at the highest level. I saw the Brazilian as a player who could reach the national team." He said.
"The manager decided not to play me, which is his decision. Then the other goalkeeper became one of the best in the Premier League. I needed minutes, and that's why I came back here."
Premier League competition explained
Although Carlos Miguel did not directly name him, his comments appear to refer to Matz Sales. During that period the Belgian established himself as Nottingham Forest's clear first-choice goalkeeper and put in a number of strong performances in the Premier League.
As a result, opportunities for Brazil soon became scarce. As Forest competed intensely in the league and prioritized consistency in goal, Carlos Miguel found himself largely on the bench.
That scenario ultimately led him to make a move where he could play regularly.
quick settlement in palmeras
Now back in Brazil, the goalkeeper says the transition to Palmeiras was smoother than expected. he had a lot of trouble in the beginningBut according to the goalkeeper himself, the reception he received helped him quickly settle in at the club.
"When I got my first opportunity, I wasn't worried. Everyone embraced me and supported me." He said. "I was very fond of this move even before I arrived. When I got here, everything happened in the best possible way."
"The fans and everyone at the club welcomed me. Everything went very well so we could win this title, which will be the first of many titles."He continued.
Carlos Miguel has made 26 appearances for Palmeiras so far and was one of the standout performers in their title-winning campaign.
Why did this move make sense?
The goalkeeper also addressed the criticism he received during a difficult spell at Nottingham Forest, suggesting that opinions often change once he gets the chance to play.
"People talk when I don't play. When I play the tone changes." He added. "There are journalists who are against you and say things. It's part of football."
"Now it's my moment and their moment to congratulate me for the title and my great match. If they want to criticize, they can. I will show people that I am not what they say."
So of course Sels was performing well and the club had no reason to change their starting goalkeeper. But the lack of minutes created a difficult situation for Carlos Miguel.
Without consistent playing time goalkeepers rarely develop, especially when their aim is to move towards international recognition. He recently talked about Too.
So a return to Brazil offered a logical reset. If he continues to perform regularly at Palmeiras, the move could help him rebuild his momentum after a challenging spell in England.
