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Rangers first teamer jets out to Spain to see Cristiano Ronaldo aide amid exit fears - report
By Richard Parks
Rangers defender Bruno Alves has jetted out to Spain to see Cristiano Ronaldo’s personal physiotherapist in a bid to get primed for the World Cup, according to a report.
The Mail claim the Portugal centre-back is keen to salvage a place in his country’s World Cup squad after his stop-start season continued when he missed Sunday’s win over Hearts.
It is said that Alves, 36, has flown to Spain for “intensive treatment on a hamstring problem” from Ronaldo’s personal physio Joaquin Juan in a last-ditch bid to make the party bound for Russia.
Alves, who has struggled for game time in the second half of the season after making an early impact at Ibrox, suffered his latest injury blow after appearing as a substitute in the 4-0 defeat to Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
He has made 24 appearances in all competitions this season but is currently behind loanee Russell Martin and Ross McCrorie in the centre-back pecking order.
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Football Insider verdict:
Those of a sceptical mind will shrug, ‘serves Rangers right for signing a 36-year-old more interested in playing for his country than his club’. A season with Alves in the ranks has taught the club that it does not always pay to put your faith in proven performers of great experience whose fitness is iffy and their best days well behind them. Rangers are coming to regret handing Alves a two-year contract last summer when a pay-as-you-play deal would have been more sensible for a club who can hardly afford to chuck cash down the drain. The Gers could benefit from Alves’ desperation to make Russia, as he must deliver some decent club displays to have a chance of booking his ticket.
In other Rangers news, a 47-year-old with four major titles in a major European league has been installed huge favourite to be the next manager at Ibrox in stunning development.
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