Atletico Mineiro have reached an agreement to sign former Atletico Madrid defender Renan Lodi on a free transfer, the Brazilian Serie A club said on Wednesday. In another development in the South American transfer market, Argentinos Juniors are in talks with veteran midfielder Enzo Perez.
One of Atletico Mineiro’s first moves in the transfer window, the 27-year-old Lodi is due to arrive in Belo Horizonte in the coming days to undergo a medical examination and sign a five-year contract.
“The signing of the contract and the official announcement will take place after the completion and approval of the medical exams,” the club said in a statement on its official website.
Lodi, who has earned 19 caps for Brazil, has been without a club since parting ways with Al-Hilal in September. His nine-year professional career has also included spells at Nottingham Forest, Marseille and Atletico Paranaense, reports Xinhua.
Atletico Mineiro finished 11th in Brazil’s 20-team Serie A standings this season, recording 12 wins, 12 draws and 14 defeats.
Meanwhile, veteran Argentine midfielder Enzo Perez could join Argentinos Juniors on a free transfer, the Buenos Aires-based club said.
Perez’s contract with River Plate is set to expire on December 31, and manager Marcelo Gallardo has informed the former Valencia and Benfica player that he is not part of the club’s future first-team plans.
Argentinos Juniors sporting director Raul Sanzotti said the club is negotiating a possible performance-based contract with the 39-year-old.
“We like him. Hopefully, at some point, he can be with us — we are talking,” Sanzotti told DSports Radio. “It’s not so much about money; it’s more about the sporting side, about what we want to compete for.”
“Argentinos usually sign contracts based on productivity, beyond the salary. We support players from that angle, so there is more competitiveness,” he added.
Perez made 37 appearances across all competitions for River Plate this year, having rejoined the club in January from Estudiantes. He previously represented River from 2017 to 2024, helping the side lift the 2018 Copa Libertadores.
— IANS
