Salomon Kalou Hints at Possible Departure from Hertha Berlin After AFCON
After a promising arrival at Hertha Berlin following two successful seasons with Lille, Salomon Kalou is growing frustrated with his situation at the German club. Despite being one of Hertha’s star summer signings, the Ivorian forward has found himself increasingly benched, a development that hasn’t sat well with the experienced striker.
Kalou, who joined the Bundesliga side to embrace a more open and intense style of football compared to Ligue 1, praised the German league’s dynamic nature shortly after his arrival:
“I only played three matches but I realized there is more intensity, more impact in the Bundesliga than in Ligue 1. The matches are much more open. In France, when you lead 1-0, you don’t dare attack. In Germany, it’s completely different.”
However, with a lack of regular starts, his tone has shifted. Speaking to Berliner Kurier ahead of his participation in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with Côte d’Ivoire, Kalou sent a warning to Hertha’s management:
“I want to win for my country. When the competition is over, I will focus on the rest of my career. I think a player who has achieved so much in his career should be treated better. When you recruit a great player, you should build the team around him. I’ve been here for three months now and I’m starting to understand certain things.”
The comments strongly hint at a possible exit if the situation doesn’t improve upon his return from international duty. Hertha’s leadership will need to act quickly if they hope to retain their high-profile attacker—and keep him motivated.
