Lenny Lobato

Lenny Lobato
Personal information
Full name Lenny Ivo Lobato Romanelli
Date of birth (2001-02-03) 3 February 2001
Place of birth Búzios, Brazil
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position Winger[1]
Team information
Current team
Ceará
Number 77
Youth career
2017–2021 Vélez Sarsfield
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Vélez Sarsfield 40 (2)
2024–2025 → Sport Recife (loan) 30 (2)
2025–2026 → Defensa y Justicia (loan) 11 (0)
2026 → Panetolikos (loan) 16 (1)
2026– → Ceará (loan) 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10:26, 22 May 2026 (UTC)

Lenny Ivo Lobato Romanelli (born 3 February 2001) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ceará.

Club career

Lobato spent six months with Brazilian side Madureira before heading to Argentina.[2] He initially spent time with All Boys of Primera B Nacional, though was unable to remain due to contractual issues.[3] At the age of sixteen, Lobato joined Vélez Sarsfield; via a trial that his El Fortín-supporting uncle had set up, with the help of the latter's brother-in-law Alejandro Chiossi who worked for them.[2][4] It was Lobato's second trial with Vélez, following one he had aged ten.[3][4] The winger soon trained with the first-team squad on numerous occasions; under both Gabriel Heinze and Mauricio Pellegrino.[5] In November 2020, Lobato signed his first professional contract.[6][7]

Lobato was moved into Mauricio Pellegrino's senior squad for the first time on 17 February 2021, as the winger made the bench for a Copa Argentina round of sixty-four encounter with Deportivo Camioneros of Torneo Federal A.[8] With the scoreline at 3–1 to Vélez, Lobato was substituted on in place of Cristian Tarragona for the final seven minutes of the victory at the Estadio Julio Humberto Grondona; he picked up a late yellow card.[8]

International career

Lobato is eligible to represent Argentina or Brazil at international level.[3] He has yet to announce his allegiances for either nation, stating he would treat any call-up equally.[3][9][10] He previously stated that he feels more Brazilian than Argentine when in Argentina, but more Argentine than Brazilian when in Brazil.[3] In regards to club football, he said that he hopes to play in Brazilian football at some point in his career.[9]

Personal life

Lobato is the grandson of 20th century Argentine dancer and actress Nelida Lobato.[3][4] His family, including parents Gabriela and Adrián, were born in Argentina, though Lobato was born in Búzios, Brazil and remained in that country until joining Vélez Sarsfield in 2017.[3][5]

Career statistics

As of 18 February 2021.[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vélez Sarsfield 2021[nb 1] Primera División 0010—000010
Career total 0010—000010

Notes

  1. ↑ Soccerway counts Copa de la Liga Profesional appearances as league appearances.

References

  1. 1 2 Lenny Lobato at WorldFootball.net
  2. 1 2 "Nació en Buzios y es el nieto de una legendaria estrella del espectáculo: Lenny Lobato, la sorpresa brasileña de Vélez en Copa Argentina". Infobae. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Aposta do Vélez poderá ter que escolher entre Brasil ou Argentina". Folha. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Destacado Fecha 6: Lenny Lobato". Vélez Sarsfield. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Conheça Lenny, a jovem promessa brasileira que brilha na base do Vélez Sarsfield, da Argentina". Globo Esporte. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Una joya de la cantera de Vélez con ADN brasilero". IAM Noticias. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Vélez profesionalizó a Lenny Lobato". El Rincón del Fútbol. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 "Argentina - L. Lobato". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Atacante assina com o Vélez e é o único brasileiro a jogar na Argentina". UOL. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  10. ↑ ""SIEMPRE SOÑÉ CON JUGAR EN UN CLUB IMPORTANTE COMO VÉLEZ"". Somos Velez. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2021.