IF a career in football for Omar Rekik fails, perhaps the model pro will succeed on the catwalk.
The 19-year-old Dutch defender was signed by Arsenal for £600,000 from Hertha Berlin during the January transfer window.
And immediately the handsome teenager’s Instagram was flooded with good-luck messages.
But what might have struck many Gunners supporters was the messages were mostly from female fans.
The former Manchester City youth star is blessed with model good looks and has become a hit with women, who regularly swoon over Rekik on his social media.
Here’s one for the ladies…
‘YOU’RE AMAZING’
Rekik has yet to make his debut at senior level.
But already he has over 53,000 followers on Instagram, who are fascinated with his lifestyle.
Alongside training snaps, Rekik happily poses in streetwear and fashionable clobber in photos he shares that generate plenty of reaction.
From comments including, “OMG, you’re amazing” to regular heart emoji posts, his female admirers are completely enamoured.
Many have even told him he looks like a male model.
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SECOND CHANCE
Football is Rekik’s dream profession though, clearly.
And with Arsenal he has an opportunity of a second chance on our shores to prove himself.
In 2012, when he was 11 he joined Manchester City’s academy, where his older brother Karim was already playing.
But, given his young age, it was no surprise that he struggled to settle.
After two years at City, he returned to Holland and joined PSV.
Karim, now 26, also left for PSV and has since enjoyed spells at Marseille, Hertha Berlin and was signed by Sevilla last summer.
INTERNATIONAL ALLEGIANCES
Rekik is a tall, right-footed centre-half but he won’t walk into Arsenal’s first team straight away.
“He’s a young talent that we’ve been following for a while that we believe has a really bright future,” Gunners boss Mikel Arteta revealed before his unveiling.
Initially, he has been earmarked for a role in the Under-23s, as he settles into London life.
But, should he progress and become a first team star, there will likely be a clamour for his services internationally.
Rekik, who is of Tunisian heritage, has played for Holland’s U18 team, as well as Tunisia’s U21s.
Whoever he chooses, you can bet he will always have a female following.
