“Hertha was my first choice”
“Hertha was my first choice”
Karim Rekik is Hertha’s latest new signing. We introduce him to you in this interview.
Despite only being 22 years old, Karim Rekik has already been around the block. He left his home town in the Netherlands as a teenager, where he was at the Feynoord youth academy and moved to Manchester City. The defender became accustomed to the physical style of play in England and trained with strong players such as Mario Balotelli. After a two-year spell with City, he returned to the Netherlands in a smart move which saw him grow from a boy to a man at PSV Eindhoven, hugely contributing to his team’s title triumph. The left-footer then moved on to Marseilles in France; yet another language, culture, and style of play. “Each country I have been to has played an important part in my life,” said a reminiscent Rekik.
After two years in Marseille, he has decided to move to Hertha BSC. Another country to tick off the list for Rekik, although there is a reunion involved for him. As a youngster in Rotterdam, a certain Salomon Kalou was training with the first team. “I even got an autograph from him,” remembers Hertha’s new signing, who will be sporting the number four on his Blue-Whites shirt.
In an interview with herthabsc.de, Rekik reveals the reason why he has come to Hertha, talks about his life and his expectations of Berlin as a city.
herthabsc.de: Karim, a warm welcome to Hertha BSC. What were the decisive factors for your move to the Blue-Whites?
Karim Rekik: Hertha BSC is a big and fantastic club that has shown it is ambitious about the future! That suits me and my attitude well because I always want to get the maximum out of myself. We are going to be playing in Europe this season and I am really looking forward to it. But I straight away got a good feeling when I first spoke to Michael Preetz and Pál Dárdai. I’m excited about my time at Hertha BSC.
herthabsc.de: You have a huge amount of international experience for a 22-year-old. You were at Manchester City, won the Dutch title with PSV Eindhoven and played in Europe for Olympique Marseille. What have you learnt from your team at these different clubs?
Rekik: Every club has given me lots of different experiences. I learnt a lot in Manchester, the Netherlands and in Marseilles for example, how to deal with challenges and success but also setbacks. Every step has played an important part in my life.
herthabsc.de: You moved abroad at the age of 16. Was it difficult for you to leave behind the town where you had grown up?
Rekik: I went to Manchester with my parents and younger brother so I was not completely alone. My family supported me amazingly and really made things easier for me, something I am incredibly grateful for. To an extent it was pretty crazy to experience something like that at such a young age. When I arrived at Manchester City, I saw Mario Balotelli. I had only known him before from Playstation (laughs).
herthabsc.de: Germany is your third country abroad that you will have played in. What are you expecting culturally from Germany and Berlin as a city?
Rekik: There is a lot in Germany that I want to see! For example, I really want to go to Oktoberfest. I had never been to Berlin but I have heard from a lot of people that it is a fantastic city. I am very excited and am looking forward to my time here.
herthabsc.de: You can play as a centre-back or on the left. What kind of player would you describe yourself as?
Rekik: I definitely feel most comfortable at centre-back although I can play on the left or right side if needed. That is absolutely no problem. As a player, I can benefit from the experiences I have had. I learnt how to play with the ball in the Netherlands while in England I got used to the more physical side of it.