There is no shortage of admirers for Arthur Theate since he made the €20 million move from Bologna to Stade Rennais in 2022. It was a transfer that made the centreback the most expensive Belgian defender as he came into Les Rouges et Noirs as a replacement for the outgoing Nayef Aguerd.
The summer was full of rumours that the defender was on the way out with clubs from the Premier League and Bundesliga all interested in securing his signature. And it’s easy to see why he generates so much interest as his skillset looks like the perfect compliment to any team that appreciates a measured approach.
Theate impresses upon the game a calm and rhythmic talent that allows Rennes a comfortable base from which to build out from the back. Each attack that his side develops generally has his fingerprint hidden away in the early stages of its construction
According to FBRef, the defender has a passing accuracy of 90.1% this season, a marginal increase on the already exceptional 89.4% that he recorded the season before with the club. However, there are still a few doubts that surround the player.
Discrepancy between in-possession and out-of-possession composure
His ability with the ball has never been in question, instead, the problem has often been how well Theate functions when he is forced into playing without the ball. His ability to defend has not exactly excelled while he has represented Rennes, and the team have looked defensively porous this season.
This would be a more acceptable downside to the player if he was one of the many young talents that had developed in the Rennes academy, but as one of the more expensive signings in a team that is not exceptionally wealthy, these flaws become more troubling.
A €20 million investment should probably provide a more balanced game, but that side of Theate’s abilities has either not been nurtured enough in his time with Les Rouges et Noirs or it simply just will never be a strength.
Manager Julién Stephan has expressed, since taking the job midseason, that he wants to turn Rennes into a tighter ship, and perhaps these efforts will help develop a player who could become truly exceptional.
