Lenny Lobato

Lenny Ivo Lobato Romanelli, born on 3 February 2001, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Sport Recife, currently on loan from Argentinian club Vélez Sarsfield. He began his career with Madureira in Brazil before moving to Argentina, where he initially joined All Boys but faced contractual issues that prevented him from staying. At the age of sixteen, Lobato joined Vélez Sarsfield through a trial arranged by his uncle and Alejandro Chiossi. This was his second trial with the club, following an earlier one at the age of ten. During his time at Vélez, he trained frequently with the first-team squad under managers Gabriel Heinze and Mauricio Pellegrino. In November 2020, Lobato signed his first professional contract. On 17 February 2021, Lobato was promoted to Mauricio Pellegrino's senior squad for a Copa Argentina match against Deportivo Camioneros. He made his debut in this game, substituting in the final seven minutes and receiving a yellow card as Vélez won 3–1. Lobato is eligible to represent either Argentina or Brazil at the international level but has not yet committed to either nation. He has expressed that he feels a stronger connection to one country depending on his location, stating he feels more Brazilian in Argentina and more Argentine in Brazil. Lobato also hopes to play in Brazilian football at some point in his career. In his personal life, Lobato is the grandson of Nelida Lobato, a renowned 20th-century Argentine dancer and actress. His parents were born in Argentina, ...