‘Ianis Hagi saga takes another major turn at Rangers’
Rangers star Ianis Hagi’s saga at Ibrox has taken another major turn with an update on his expiring contract, Sky Sports reports.
Despite reports that Hagi had been offered a new contract [Glasgow Times], it has now emerged that they are false and the Romanian has not had an offer from Rangers, although young duo Zak Lovelace and Findlay Curtis are in talks over extensions.
Hagi was controversially frozen out of the first-team squad for much of the season, in spite of his obvious quality, and made to train with the B Team, even after Rangers failed to sell him in the summer for some much-needed funds.
However, the former Fiorentina man was eventually re-introduced to the squad, and has become a key player under Philippe Clement.
Hagi’s contract is due to expire in the summer, allowing him to leave Rangers for free, if he can agree a deal with another team.
Rangers handling of Romanian star Hagi hard to understand
Football Insider Verdict
Hagi has had a puzzling career at Ibrox, and his topsy-turvy relationship with the Glaswegian side continues.
Brought in, initially on-loan, in the 2019/20 season, Hagi enjoyed three years with the ‘Gers, and he was the league’s top assister as Rangers won the Scottish Premiership under Steven Gerrard in the 2020/21 season.
The following season, Hagi contributed early to the club’s miracle run in the Europa League, as they reached the final. However, the Romanian international would suffer a season-ending knee injury midway through the 2021/22 season.
Despite the injury, Rangers chose to sign Hagi to a new contract during his recovery, and after more than a year out the former Genk man would return from injury.
Rangers though, would make the decision to send Hagi on-loan to Spanish side, Alaves, where he failed to set the world alight.
After his return, the ‘Gers tried to sell Hagi, to no avail, making the decision to initially give him a new contract, and then freeze him out of the side, even more confounding.
All seemed settled, as Clement brought back the son of Barcelona legend Gheorghe Hagi, back into the fold to try and improve results in a dismal season, and Hagi has had an immediate impact.
Through 11 starts, Hagi has scored once (an early strike in the 3-0 Old Firm victory on 2 January) and assisted five times, seemingly helping to keep the Belgian manager in his job.
The latest twist, that he has not been offered a new contract, is especially baffling, and offers a stark contrast to Old Firm rivals, Celtic, who have been tipped as one of the best run clubs on the continent thanks to their latest news.
In other news, Nicolas Kuhn has sent a farewell message to Celtic fans.
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