Celtic idol ‘feels really sorry’ for Ianis Hagi after Rangers twist
Rangers manager Philippe Clement ‘flung’ midfielder Ianis Hagi into their 2-0 Scottish Premier League win over St Johnstone on Sunday (October 6).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Scotland international Frank McAvennie believes the ‘game has gone soft’ after the 25-year-old was sent off against St Johnstone and has commended the Romanian for his professionalism during his exile.
Hagi bagged an assist for Vaclav Cerny and Rangers’ second goal of the game before being sent off for a rash challenge on St Johnstone forward Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka in the 82nd minute.
The Romania international had been frozen out by Clement, with the club hoping to sell him over the summer to bring in much-needed funds.
Rangers star Ianis Hagi let the occasion get the better of him
After spending last season on loan with Spanish side Deportivo Alaves, the game against St Johnstone was his first for Rangers in 14 months.
The attacking midfielder had a clause in his contract that meant his wage would be increased after playing a certain number of games, hence why the club were reluctant to bring him back into the fold.
“I really feel sorry for Hagi because he’s come back into the fold.”, McAvennie told Football Insider.
“I feel for him, he came back in, they flung him back in after 14 months at the weekend and that’s not a sending-off for me.
“The game has gone soft if that’s a sending-off, he was outstretched, he could have got hurt and he certainly didn’t mean to hurt the boy.
“It is what it is, it’s a long time to be out of the game, and he was training on his own for a lot of it, it’s soul-destroying.
“And then getting back in, wanting impress the manager, leaving your foot in and getting sent off, I just felt for him.
“He’s a damn good player.
“He’s like a new player, and a good one, I thought he was alright when he came on, obviously there was something wrong.
“Rangers had to pay X amount of money, and that’s why he was out so they came to an agreement with the boy.
“He hasn’t said one bad word about Rangers, he’s just got on with it and you have to give credit where it’s due.
“The boy just put his head down, he didn’t want to leave, he wanted to fight for his place and he’s done it.
“I like players that do that, this boy will get games, it was politics that kept him out of the team.
“He’s sorted it, he will get back and get sharper, the more games you play the sharper you get.”
In other news, Rangers to lose out on £6m as ‘big’ issue emerges.
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