Premier League duo Wolves and Arsenal held talks with Robert Renan but Zenit St Petersburg team-mate Andrei Mostovoy would not be surprised to see the defender end up at Real Madrid instead, speaking to Sport24.
The January signing from Corinthians has only made three league appearances in Zenit colours so far. But, already, his very own brand of jogo bonito is threatening to make 19-year-old Renan a firm fans favourite in his new Russian home.
As Mostovoy points out, Renan’s tendency to attempt risky backheels within his own penalty area is proof of just how ‘super technical’ the teenager is.
According to Goal, Arsenal held talks with Renan’s camp in 2022. As did Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City; the youngster’s agent travelling to England for negotiations with a number of interested parties (Jorge Nicola).
Left-footed centre-halves are all the rage these days. And Renan, should he live up to his promise in St Petersburg, could rapidly become one of the best around; Real Madrid another club reportedly keeping very close tabs on the Brazil U20 international.
Arsenal, Wolves and Man City held talks with Robert Renan
“Judging by his potential, I think that everything (linking him with Real Madrid) is real,” Mostovoy tells Sport24 of his Zenit team-mate, who could make his full Selecao debut against Morocco this weekend.
“Both the attention of Real Madrid and the call to the Brazilian national team at such a young age are not easy to achieve.
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“And, in terms of football, everything was clear from the first training session. Renan has a great left foot. I think he is a super buy. Yes, he likes to play backheels in the penalty area!
“For a defender, he’s super technical.”
Renan is likely to earn Zenit St Petersburg a substantial profit if or when he moves onto bigger and better things. His price-tag reportedly stands at £35 million now.
“He has a very good level. Very good with the ball and without the ball,” says his former Corinthians coach Vitor Pereira. “He’s fast, focused. He needs to improve a little in the air, and in duels on the ground against stronger players.
“But I have no doubt that he is a player with a bright future ahead of him.”
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