Brazilian left-back Renan Lodi officially announced on Sunday that he had unilaterally terminated his contract with Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal. He also said that this move was due to his failure to obtain league registration for the new season and that he decided to pursue legal rights on the advice of his lawyer.

The 27-year-old Lodi, a graduate of Atlético Paranaense's youth academy, made his professional debut for the Brazilian first team on October 13, 2016. He subsequently played for Atlético Madrid, Nottingham Forest, and Marseille, playing in 27 Champions League matches, 6 Europa League matches, 84 La Liga matches, 28 Premier League matches, and 14 Ligue 1 matches, winning a La Liga title with his team.

In January 2024, Lodi moved to Al-Hilal for €23 million. To date, he has made 56 appearances for Al-Hilal, scoring four goals and providing 11 assists, winning one Saudi League title, one Saudi Cup, and two Saudi Super Cups with the team.

However, Lodi recently learned he had failed to qualify for the Saudi League. In response, he released a statement on his social media platform: "At the beginning of 2024, I signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Asia's largest club. I have always been proud to play for Al Hilal. I fought to the end to achieve the club's goals and to do my utmost to defend the honor of Saudi football. I have won four trophies in a short period of time, but I always crave more. I work hard to take Al Hilal to the pinnacle they deserve."

"I started the 2025/26 season with great enthusiasm and a desire to win more honours for the club. I never worried about competing with other players for playing time. However, after the pre-season training in Germany, I was shocked to learn that I would not be able to play in the Saudi league and would only be able to get a few appearances in the AFC Champions League."

"This situation has forced me to rethink my future. I still have many dreams for football, but I haven't been able to get enough playing time this season. I have tried to communicate with the club over the past few weeks, hoping to participate in all of Al-Hilal's competitions, but have not received any response regarding a friendly resolution to this matter."

"I sought legal advice and learned that no one can deprive me of my right to work. Like any worker whose work is prevented, I decided to defend my rights. I sincerely hope that the relevant authorities will rule on this case as soon as possible so that I can return to the career I love and enjoy for a long time without any restrictions."

"I sincerely thank the fans for their support over the past 20 months. You are the driving force behind Al Hilal's progress. I would also like to thank the club's professional team for their help during this period - especially the physiotherapists, and my teammates, with whom I have developed a deep friendship."