Saudi Arabia has become a popular destination for soccer players in recent times. This is not surprising considering the amount of money that the league has offered to convince players to leave European soccer, even when they are at the peak of their careers. One such player is Renan Lodi, who previously played for Olympique Marseille. In January, Lodi made the switch to the Middle Eastern league, signing a lucrative deal with Al-Hilal. However, it seems that Marseille was reluctant to let go of the player and only agreed to the transfer under pressure from Lodi.
Lodi’s move to Al-Hilal was part of a $25 million deal, which made him their overseas pick following Neymar’s injury. In a recent interview, Marseille’s sporting director, Mehdi Benatia, shed light on the club’s decision to sell Lodi. Benatia stated that they initially hid Al-Hilal’s offer from the player, as Lodi was considered important and a key player for Marseille. However, Lodi’s agent eventually informed him of the offer, leading to pressure on the club to allow him to leave.
Despite the big-money move, Lodi has yet to make his debut for Al-Hilal. He has struggled to break into the first team, as head coach Jorge Jesus prefers to stick with his preferred starting eleven. Nevertheless, Al-Hilal has been performing exceptionally well this season, currently sitting comfortably at the top of the SPL standings. With 56 points from twenty games, they hold a seven-point lead over second-place Al Nassr. Aleksander Mitrovic, who joined the team in the summer, has been in top form, scoring 20 goals.
Having recently won the Riyadh Season Cup, Al-Hilal is determined to secure the league title. They are considered the favorites to win the SPL, and it will be interesting to see if they can maintain their dominant performances and end their long wait for the trophy.
According to the Source essentiallysports.com