Kalunho was sidelined from the squad after Jurgen Klinsmann’s arrival, and had been thinking about leaving the Berlin club during the winter months. The former Chelsea player, who has had a very difficult time coping with the situation, has been searching in vain for a way out.
Indeed, as he revealed to a Berlin newspaper, he was in contact with his former Chelsea team-mate John Terry. The former Blues captain, who became assistant to Aston Villa, has been trying to bring in the 2015 African champions. According to Salomon Kalou, he was not totally against the idea. An agreement had even been reached between the two parties. “My good friend John Terry called me. He’s a deputy at Aston Villa. At Chelsea, he was my captain. I wanted to play for him. But the work permit was too big an obstacle. We tried until the last minute, but I’m not European and I don’t play for the national team any more. That was the problem.
Salomon Kalou was therefore a hair’s breadth away from returning to England. It would now be very difficult to see him play with the villagers next season. And with good reason, his banned status could quickly change. Jurgen Klinsmann has just been sacked. The new coach could reshuffle the cards and give Kalunho an important role. His contract with Hertha Berlin expires at the end of the season.
