Atletico Madrid Manager Diego Simeone Fires Cheap Shot at Nottingham Forest Bound Renan Lodi

• Diego Simeone had high praise for Renan Lodi but also appeared bitter about the player's departure
• Brazil's Renan Lodi has yet to feature for Atletico Madrid during the current season but was a key player last season
• Nottingham Forest has secured a loan deal for Renan Lodi with the option to purchase the player afterwards

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is a little bitter at the moment.

The Los Rojiblancos boss is gearing up for his side’s fixture against Valencia but is also dealing with the departure of Renan Lodi.

As reported by eNCA, Lodi agreed to join English Premier League side Nottingham Forest on loan.

Forest also have the option to purchase him once the loan deal expires.

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Speaking ahead of his team’s clash with Valencia, Simeone had praise for Lodi, describing him as always willing to help and being a committed member of the squad.

But while he heaped praise on the Brazilian, he also directed a jab at the English-bound star, Football Espana reported.

Simeone added that Lodi needed to play more games to help earn a place at the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year. But instead of staying and fighting for his place in the Atletic squad, he opted to leave and go somewhere else.

“There is enormous competition in the squad. Some like to compete and others prefer to go to other teams in order to have those minutes that get them closer to being able to go to the World Cup,” he said.

Lodi has yet to make an appearance for Los Rojiblancos this season but did play 42 times for the team in all competitions last season. He scored four goals and notched up five assists for the side during the course of the previous season.

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Diego Simeone keen to keep Antoine Griezmann as Atletico Madrid seek loophole to avoid paying Barcelona €40m

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is a fan of Antoine Griezmann and doesn’t want to part ways with the French player.

Griezmann has been at the centre of numerous transfer stories in recent weeks as stories did the rounds that Los Rojiblancos were looking to trade him for Cristiano Ronaldo.

But coach Simeone said that losing the player during the current transfer window would be against his wishes, Football Espana reported.