Omar Rekik has confirmed on Instagram that he has left Arsenal to join Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam for the entire 2022-23 campaign – Chelsea icon Salomon Kalou has responded on the social media post.
Rekik, 20, joined Arsenal in January 2021 from German side Hertha Berlin – where he was in the academy and then B-team. At the same time, his elder brother Karim, and Kalou, were playing for the senior side.
A three-time the Tunisia international, Rekik has played 17 times for Arsenal’s Under-23 side but is yet to break into Mikel Arteta’s senior outfit. There is potential to do so, though, and he is looking to show that out on loan.
He joins a Sparta side that avoided a relegation scrap last season with a solid 14th-placed finish in the top tier of Dutch football. Rekik will be hoping to showcase his talent at a decent level, against the likes of Ajax and PSV.
Rekik has left Arsenal on loan: Kalou has responded
Rekik needed to leave on loan. While Arsenal do lack a bit of depth at centre-back, the chances are Arteta would play a more-senior player out of position before calling on Rekik to fill a gap.
Pablo Mari has returned from a loan at Udinese, while Rob Holding remains at the club. Gabriel and Ben White are first choice. Rekik needs minutes and going out on loan can now show Arsenal what he is all about.
He is likely to be first choice at Sparta – and it is a move that Kalou, a former teammate of Rekik and his elder brother, has described as “very beautiful”.
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