Nottingham Forest beat Leicester yesterday and in Renan Lodi, they have a player who is starting to prove his fiercest critics wrong. The Brazilian is on loan from Atletico Madrid and yesterday he was outstanding once again.
Lodi has taken some time to get up to speed in the Premier League. There was a clamour for Harry Toffolo to start ahead of him earlier in the campaign but now those opinions have been placed in the bin.
Yesterday was always going to be a challenge for Lodi. Leicester have Marc Albrighton and Harvey Barnes on the flanks and they tend to swap over during the game.
The youngster wasn’t fazed, however. He produced a wonderful display and largely kept the Foxes at bay, whilst also helping out at the other end of the pitch in an attacking sense.
Forest actually have the option to sign Lodi during the summer of 2023. A fee of £30 million has already been agreed upon with Los Rojiblancos and he’s seemingly down the pecking order there.
On his current form, the club will certainly hope to keep him for the foreseeable. At 24-years-old, the player will only get better and he’s looking every inch like a Premier League star.
Lodi once again shines and critics are being proved wrong
The Brazil international shone at the City Ground. Sofa Score showcased that he won three aerial duels and a further three ground deals to make for a fruitful appearance.
Defensively he was sound as well. He made two tackles and claimed three clearances, with his defending particularly impressive in the latter stages of the game.
Lodi also completed 23 of the 28 passes that he attempted. At times he kept things simple but there were three occasions where he attempted long balls to get the team going.
The challenge for Lodi is now very clear. He must continue in this rich vein of form as he looks to repay the faith shown in him by Steve Cooper earlier in the campaign.
It had looked as though the left-back might not be up to the challenge of the Premier League earlier in the season. Right now, he’s bang in form, however, and long may it continue.