Renan Lodi has officially left Olympique de Marseille to join Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. The announcement was made this evening by renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, ending speculation surrounding the departure of the Brazilian defender.
The deal between the two clubs as well as with the player himself has been concluded, and the contract extends until June 2027. The amount of the transfer is around €20 million, a significant sum which will mark the finances of the Olympic Marseille. The official documents should be signed on Monday.
According to Romano, the transfer will be formalized in the form of a loan with an option to purchase, a clause which would be 100% obligatory. This new development confirms the radical change of direction by Renan Lodi, who spent barely six months in the Marseille city.
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Conflicting statements
However, not so long ago, the Brazilian defender had assured his desire to establish himself permanently in Marseille. Last summer, after his transfer from Atlético Madrid for almost 13 million euros, he signed a contract running until 2028. At the time, his agent even declared: “Renan Lodi already feels very well in Marseille with his wife and 5-month-old daughter, he already says he wants to end his career here!”.
This about-face is all the more surprising given that the player, who arrived in the Marseille city with the label of choice reinforcement, will have played only 23 matches in the Olympian jersey, delivering only one decisive pass.
With his arrival at Al-Hilal, Renan Lodi strengthens an already impressive Brazilian armada including players such as Michael, Malcolm, and Neymar, although the latter is currently injured.
