Renan Lodi has shared an emotional message with fans after Nottingham Forest secured Premier League safety. The Reds ensured they would be playing in the top flight again next season by defeating title-chasing Arsenal 1-0 at the City Ground on Saturday. And left-back Lodi, who arrived on loan from Atletico Madrid last summer, showed just what Forest’s survival meant to him when he was seen crying on the pitch at full-time. And addressing Reds’ supporters via Instagram,
Renan Lodi said: “Yesterday I was crying due to many reasons. There were many sacrifices during this journey. I choose to change teams, countries, my life… I was just looking for more minutes to go to the World Cup, but what I found was a place that welcomed me and made me feel so special. And it was not easy at all. I knew it would be difficult but not as much as it was… I came to a club with huge ambitions and with a crowd looking for their deserved space on this amazing league. And I struggled a lot at the beginning. I lost my primary goal, [going to the World Cup] but I suddenly found another greater goal – to keep the club and the fans where they deserve to be. During the 31 matches I played, I felt the same as you feel when you are in the City Ground. I felt the need to keep this club where it deserves. And yesterday, we did it!”
The 25-year-old also revealed a huge personal sacrifice he had made to help Forest remain in the top-flight after spending 23-years in exile.
Renan Lodi added: “Here I became a father, even though I couldn’t spend more than three days with Caetano, my boy, since I knew I had to come back to help my friends on our quest. I am 50 days away from my family and my baby, but I was sure that the prize for that would be paid – and yesterday was the pay day! It was a very hard season for me, for the club and for the fans. I knew it. And because all of this, when the game was over, I cried. It was tears of joy and happiness. We did it! Now I only hope to meet my boy and my family. It’s time to celebrate. I am sure that next season will be much better. The club has everything to fight to higher goals and give its fans what they deserve!”
