Exclusive: Lazio eyeing up Renan Lodi after Al-Hilal fallout

Former Nottingham Forest defender Renan Lodi has emerged on Lazio’s radar after his terminated his contract at Saudi club Al-Hilal, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The Brazilian full-back joined the Saudi Pro League side in January 2024 and made 56 appearances as the club won the league title, King Cup and two Saudi Super Cups.

But he was left out of their registered squad for the 2025/26 season due to foreign player restrictions and last week informed the club, via his lawyers, that he was leaving.

In a statement, Lodi said: “I cannot be deprived of the right to practise my profession. I have decided to assert my rights like any worker who is prevented from doing their job.”

“Over the past few weeks, I tried to reverse this decision with the club to be available for all Al-Hilal’s matches. But I never received an answer on how this situation could be resolved in a friendly manner.”

It is expected that there will be a legal battle between the club and the player.

Next Destination

But the 19-time Brazil international could be offered a quick route back to European football with Lazio keen on taking him to Serie A.

Former Chelsea and Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri is a huge admirer of the player and is actively looking for a replacement for Nuno Taveres, who could leave when the transfer window reopens. 

Th club are currently under a transfer embargo, for breaching financial parameters and cannot sign players until January.

Turkish club Fenerbahçe are also interested in making a move for the former Atletico Madrid player.

Lodi first made his name at Athletico Parananese in his homeland and earned a move to La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid, where he penned a six-year deal, in 2019.

He spent a spell on loan in the Premier League with Forest in the 2022/23 campaign and made a permanent switch to Marseille the following season, for €13million, and after a year in France went to Saudi for €23million.