Defender Rutjens leaves Floriana to join Calcio Foggia

Christian Rutjens has left Floriana FC and joined Italian side Calcio Foggia.

The towering defender joined Floriana last season, and helped the club to not only challenge for the Premier League title, where the team finished second, while he also was a key figure in his team’s run towards the FA Trophy triumph.

This season, Rutjens made eight appearances for Floriana but now the Spanish defender has decided to continue his career in Italy with Foggia.

“Today ends one of the most beautiful adventure I have every lived,” Rutjens wrote on his social media.

“I stop being a football player that has been my home for this year and a half. A year and a half that has taught me so much, has given me unique emotions, has made me win my first cup in professional football, has made me play some Europa Conference League preliminaries and above all has made me enjoy every moment.

“I have been lucky enough to meet a fantastic group, the technical staff of Gianluca Atzori who has treated me like a son, to make friends who will hopefully stay forever, I will never forget!

“I want to especially thank Johan Said, a person of word, a head-to-toe president and I hope we can reunite and maintain the relationship we have created in this time.

“I have been very happy in Malta, in Floriana, but now it’s time to face a new challenge with more desire and confidence than ever.”