Arema FC Signals Intent to Retain Choi Bo-kyeong Despite Frequent Injuries

Arema management has indicated their intention to keep Choi Bo-kyeong, despite the South Korean defender's ongoing injury struggles. He is not included in the list of players up for transfer as the mid-season window for Liga 1 2024-25 approaches its closing date on January 15.



Up until the middle of the season, Choi has only made nine appearances for Arema, playing 668 minutes. He missed the remaining eight matches due to injury recovery. Arema's General Manager, Yusrinal Fitriandi, outlined several factors that will influence their decision to release a player, particularly for foreign players like Choi.

He emphasized that the first consideration is the player's contract status, followed by the player's physical condition. Regarding Choi's injuries, he stated that it’s a risk the club has accepted and that their medical team will continue to monitor his progress. As long as Choi remains fit to play, they are open to retaining him.

Inal also mentioned that releasing a player, whether foreign or domestic, would require finding a suitable replacement. He noted that with the transfer window closing soon, time is a significant factor in making such decisions.

Currently, there are no plans to alter the squad's eight foreign players. While there have been evaluations of the players, Inal clarified that performance issues don't automatically lead to changes in the team roster.