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“I have a deep affection for Nottingham, but I disliked playing at the club because…”- Renan Lodi Spills the Beans: The ONE thing he HATED about playing for Nottingham Forest
Renan Lodi Reflects on His Challenging Time at Nottingham Forest and Shares Affection for the Club
Renan Lodi made a significant impression during his one season at Nottingham Forest, but there was one aspect of his move that proved far more challenging than he expected.
Despite a standout loan spell at the City Ground, Forest’s attempt to sign Lodi permanently fell through.
It became clear that Atletico Madrid was ready to part ways with the Brazilian left-back, leading to hopes that a permanent deal with Forest could materialize.
However, Lodi ultimately joined Marseille on loan to pursue his ambition of playing in the Champions League.
Ironically, Marseille was eliminated from the competition shortly after Lodi’s arrival, and his time in France was cut short. He later signed with Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, joining fellow Brazilian Neymar.
While Neymar soon moved to the United States, Lodi has remained at Al Hilal, where he has reportedly enjoyed his time. Recently, he took to social media to reflect on his challenging yet rewarding experience at Nottingham Forest.
Adapting to Forest Was ‘Extremely Difficult’ for Lodi
Although Lodi and Al Hilal recently set a world record for consecutive wins, which suggests he’s adapted well to life in Saudi Arabia, his transition to English football was a different story.
On Instagram, Lodi opened up about the struggles he faced during his year-long loan at Forest, saying: “It was an extremely difficult adaptation because the sun never came out there! It was cloudy all the time, and by 3 pm, it was already really dark.”
He also mentioned how his wife, Rafaela, was with him during this period and was pregnant at the time.
Despite the challenges, Lodi found comfort in the decision he made: “But since it was a decision I made, I felt more at peace, even though the adaptation was tough.”
However, Lodi didn’t let these initial struggles hold him back. He continued: “I was more grounded, telling myself: ‘No, I’m going to play in the Premier League, I’m going to be calmer about it.’
The first month was very difficult due to the adaptation, but the Premier League is a very challenging league. Out of 33 games, I played 31, so I wasn’t just there for sightseeing; I played.”
Lodi Has ‘A Lot of Affection’ for Nottingham Forest
Although Brentford showed interest in Lodi before his move to Al Hilal, the Brazilian made it clear how much Forest meant to him.
On his Instagram, he spoke about how he eventually grew fond of the city and the club, despite the tough start.
“I have a lot of affection for Nottingham. Rafaela loves that city, and after a while, I grew to love it too,” he said. “I also accepted the challenge because the club had just been promoted to the Premier League after 20 years.
The challenge was to keep Nottingham in the top division, so I went there with that goal in mind.
To play, to prove my worth, and also to remember some people at Atletico telling me: ‘Don’t go, stay here. Even if you’re not playing, stay here, it’s too hard over there; you won’t play, the team just got promoted.’”
As Lodi adapted to life at Forest, he began to thrive, playing in 31 of 33 league games. “Out of 33 games, I played 31, I managed to play in the Premier League, and we achieved the club’s goal of staying in the top division,” he said. “And this year, I think it’s the third or fourth year with Nottingham in the top division, everything changed.”
Lodi’s Impact on Forest and Steve Cooper’s Appreciation
Lodi’s role in Forest’s survival during that Premier League season didn’t go unnoticed by manager Steve Cooper, who was a fan of the Brazilian’s contributions. Although Lodi didn’t return to the club on a permanent basis, his time at Forest left a lasting impact, one that both the club and the player will remember fondly.
