Rob Holding looks lost after joining Crystal Palace from Arsenal last summer. A player who was once highly rated by Arsene Wenger and equally respected by Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta is now failing to find pastures at Selhurst Park.
In the past, when a player used to leave the Gunners, they were able to win silverware. Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, and Samir Nasri all achieved remarkable success.
Arsenal have now turned into a team that are themselves capable of competing for every major honor. Holding was unable to get a clear breakthrough due to the presence of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in the squad.
However, he had already sharpened his skills and was ready to be a direct starter for any potential club that attempts to sign him. Then came in South London-based outfit Palace, who brought the English centre-back for just £4 million in the 2023 summer.
Will Crystal Palace sell Rob Holding in January amid feud with Glasner?
Holding had made 162 appearances for the Gooners and was expected to pass on his Premier League experience to the Eagles. But, it’s been more than a year, and the centre-back has made just one appearance for his new club.
Our squad photo back at Selhurst Park 🦅
One club. Crystal Palace.#CPFC // @cpfc_w pic.twitter.com/vXwQs4XUzH
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) September 26, 2024
He was named in their PL squad but made it to the bench just once under manager Oliver Glasner. In fact, he wasn’t even present in their recent squad photo. The 29-year-old was expected to play a key role alongside Marc Guehi.
Many predicted that he could be the successor to Joachim Andersen. But the scenario has changed completely for Holding. He had a dispute with Glasner after the club’s game against West Ham United in August.
The former Arsenal star refused to do a post-game warming-down session, and since then he has been made to train with the U21s.
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As things stand, the Englishman is no longer in the manager’s plans, and his chances to play again look quite slim at the moment. Holding has deleted all his photos with Palace on his Instagram account.
Rob Holding has removed all Crystal Palace posts on his Instagram account and has also unfollowed the club 🤔
A week ago Glasner confirmed the defender was training alone due to a personal issue between them two… 😬#CPFC pic.twitter.com/d0OGYpJI6i
— 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞 🦅 (@CPFC_GEO) September 8, 2024
Even Glasner has preferred to stay tight-lipped on the matter and admitted that the problems stay between them. The Palace boss was asked about the centre-back’s status last month, and he said:
“Rob is training individually at the moment. We will talk together. He knows the reason, but it is something that stays between Rob and me. Nothing public.”
Holding is part of Palace’s Premier League squad list for September to January. But he remains frozen out until and unless he doesn’t end his feud with Glasner.
The 29-year-old is currently in his prime years, and wasting time won’t give him any advantages. The Eagles might even prefer to sell the man from Stalybridge since his contract ends next summer.
The South London outfit has Guehi, Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Trevoh Chalobah, and Chadi Riad as potential centre-back options.
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Hence, they could cash in on the player in January if there is no improvement in his relationship with the manager.
