Skacel departs Southampton

Czech ace joins Hertha Berlin

By Vasek Kadlec   Last updated: 1st February 2008

Rudi Skacel

Skacel: On the move

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Southampton have allowed midfielder Rudi Skacel to join Hertha Berlin.

The Bundesliga outfit have swooped for the Czech star, who moves to the German capital on loan for the rest of the season.

"Hertha have long been scouting him at Southampton," his agent Pavel Zika confirmed to Pravo.

"A loan with a further option of a permanent move has been agreed and, if nothing special happens, Hertha will count on him in the summer.

"Ruda will be helped with his adaptation by goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny."

Disappointment

Saints' acting chief executive Lee Hoos insisted the club did not want Skacel to leave.

"We made it very clear we wanted Rudi to stay but he was adamant he needed to go," said Hoos.

"The Czech national manager views the Championship very much as a second tier league - even though it is the fifth most popular in Europe.

"Rudi felt he would not get a look-in unless he was playing in a top division. A lot of Czech players feature in the Bundesliga and Hertha are a big club there.

"He felt he would have a much better chance of catching the eye there. It was not a financial decision for him or for us."

Skacel is the second big name to depart St Mary's on deadline day after Grzegorz Rasiak joined Bolton.