Arnaud Kalimuendo back to his best at Rennes?

At 22 years old, Arnaud Kalimuendo is not the biggest name in Ligue 1 McDonald's, nor the flashiest. But the Rennes striker has been quietly building his game, maturing season by season. This season, he may finally be ready to announce himself as one of the league’s most reliable forwards.

His recent double against Angers not only sealed a vital 3–0 win for Stade Rennais — it also carried personal meaning. With 13 Ligue 1 goals this season, Kalimuendo has already surpassed his career best, set during his breakout campaign on loan at Lens in 2021–22.

A product of Paris Saint-Germain’s academy, Kalimuendo was part of a golden generation at the Camp des Loges. But with PSG’s stacked forward line offering limited opportunities, he opted for a pair of productive loan spells at RC Lens — scoring 12 goals in both the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons.

His permanent move to Rennes in the summer of 2022 felt like a logical next step — a club known for giving young talent space to grow. Yet his adaptation wasn’t immediate. Used both centrally and on the wings, Kalimuendo often had to sacrifice parts of his natural game for the system. He ended the 2022–23 season with 7 league goals, then improved to 9 in 2023–24.

right place, right time

Kalimuendo’s recent surge in form comes after a public challenge from Rennes head coach Habib Beye. Following a subdued showing at Lens just before the international break, Beye hinted that his striker needed to show a stronger “competitor’s mentality.”

The response? A brace against Slovakia with France’s U21s, followed by a standout display against Angers — including a smart finish with his weaker foot and a stoppage-time goal that showed his positional instinct.

WATCH: Kalimuendo scores against Angers

Crucially, Beye also opted to use Kalimuendo in a slightly different role — wide right in a front three, rather than as a traditional No.9. The idea, drawn from a pass Kalimuendo made while on U21 duty, allowed him to attack from deeper positions and exploit space on the outside.

“Arnaud has real strengths when it comes to evading pressure, especially with his first touch,” explained Beye. “I think those qualities come through more clearly when he plays on the right. He doesn’t lose pace there like he sometimes does on the left.”

"He has the potential to score 20 goals in Ligue 1, maybe more,” said the Rennes coach. “Arnaud is a major talent in this league. He just needs to keep pushing himself.”

Whether his future lies on the right wing or back through the middle, Kalimuendo now looks like a player on the rise, both in form and in maturity. His response to criticism was loud, clear, and clinical.

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