Three months after leaving Al-Hilal, Brazilian left-back Renan Lodi is finally embarking on a new chapter in his career. He will join Brazilian Serie A giants Atlético Mineiro on a five-year contract.

The 27-year-old Lodi came through the youth academy of Athletico Paranaense and officially joined the European football scene in July 2019. He has played for several teams, including Atlético Madrid, Nottingham Forest, and Marseille, making 27 Champions League appearances, 6 Europa League appearances, 84 La Liga appearances, 28 Premier League appearances, and 14 Ligue 1 appearances, winning the 2020/21 La Liga title with his team.

In January 2024, Lodi transferred to Al-Hilal for €23 million. He made 56 appearances for Al-Hilal, scoring 4 goals and providing 11 assists, winning one Saudi League title, one Saudi Cup title, and two Saudi Super Cup titles with the team.

However, in September of this year, Lodi unilaterally terminated his contract with Al-Hilal, which was originally scheduled to expire in 2027. According to Lodi himself, this was due to the club's failure to help him register for the Saudi league in the new season: "At the beginning of the 2025/26 season, I was full of passion and eager to win more honors for the club, and I was never worried about competing with other players for playing time. However, after the preseason training in Germany, I was shocked to learn that I would not be able to participate in the Saudi league and would only be able to get a few appearances in the AFC Champions League."

“I still have many dreams about football, but I haven’t been able to get enough playing time this season. I’ve tried to communicate with the club in the past few weeks, hoping to participate in all of Al-Hilal’s matches, but I haven’t received any response about resolving this matter amicably.”

“I sought legal advice and learned that no one can deprive me of my right to work. Like any worker whose work is hindered, I decided to defend my rights. I sincerely hope that the relevant authorities will make a decision on this case as soon as possible so that I can resume my beloved career without any restrictions.”

Lodi has shown a strong desire to return to Brazil. It is understood that Roma recently expressed keen interest in him and, under the leadership of sporting director Frédéric Massara, began negotiations with his agent.

For Roma, Lodi was the best option to replace or partner with left-backs like Angelino and Constantinos Tsimikas. However, Lodi's insistence on returning to Brazil ultimately prevented negotiations from making any substantial progress.