Real Salt Lake: Khalifi ready for fresh start with Real

Real Salt Lake finally has its man.

Rachid El Khalifi, the wide midfielder the club has coveted since February, passed his physical at Xango Field in Lehi on Tuesday and is now officially a member of RSL. The Moroccan-born Dutch winger will be available for selection by coach Jason Kreis for Saturday's game at Chicago.

Khalifi, 30, spent nine years playing in Holland's second division, but he's happy for a fresh start in Major League Soccer.

"Now I want to see something else and hope I can do my best here," said Khalifi.

The midfielder had a week and a half trial with Real Salt Lake in February and said he was really impressed with the coaching staff and the trainers. It's why he jumped at the chance to sign with RSL when the opportunity presented itself five months later.

During his introductory media presentation on Tuesday at Rio Tinto Stadium, Khalifi acknowledged that what little he knows about Utah and MLS he learned via Google.

"I know (soccer's) not very important here in America. In Holland soccer is very important there, that's the first sport, and here I think it's the fourth or fifth. But I think now soccer is going up," said Khalifi, who's well-spoken in English even though it's not his first language.

When Real Salt Lake made the long-term shift in early June to be a base 4-3-3 formation team, it immediately sought to fill significant voids at outside midfield. Khalifi was one of the first players the club contacted following his impressive trial during RSL's preseason.

Once he's match fit, Khalifi figures to be a permanent fixture in Real Salt Lake's starting 11.

ON HIS WAY BACK: David Horst's season-long loan to the Austin Aztex only lasted one weekend.

The Real Salt Lake center back has been recalled by the team to fill the void in the lineup created by Robbie Russell's injury. Russell injured his hip in the opening five minutes of last Friday's match with FC Dallas and he's now expected to miss three to four weeks.

Without Russell, Horst is now the first choice back-up to Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers.

e-mail: jedward@desnews.com