Deal in place for continental giants to snap up Rangers summer signing – confirmed

Cruz Azul’s sporting director Eduardo de la Torre has confirmed the Mexico City club will sign Carlos Pena on loan from Rangers – six months after Pena moved to Glasgow for £2.2million.
The 27-year-old midfielder has struggled to nail down a regular place in the Gers starting XI since his move from Chivas Guadalajara in the summer, despite scoring five times in fourteen appearances for the Ibrox side.
Pena will be reunited with the man who brought him to Scotland when he signs for Central American giants Cruz Azul – former Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha.
De la Torre confirmed Pena will be joining on a temporary deal and hinted it could become a permanent move if the Mexican international impresses on his return to Liga MX.
“He is a player the coach knows. He knows what he can give him and a midfielder is a position we talked about that could help the squad,” de la Torre told Record, as translated by the Daily Record.
“Carlos is a Mexican, he’s 27 years old and he still has a lot to give.
“He’s coming as a loan and the player has to earn a lot of things here to continue.
“If all that is sorted favorably, we will have an acceptable option for both sides.”
Pena is one of a number of Rangers players expected to leave the club over the coming weeks as director of football Mark Allen and manager Graeme Murty rebuild the Ibrox side for the third time in as many years.
Despite his fairly impressive goal return, Pena has struggled to get to grip with Scottish football and has often looked out his depth in the frantic pace of Scottish football.
Football Insider verdict
Pena’s time at Ibrox was, in all honesty, over a few months ago. The Mexican has tried to get up to pace with Scottish football but hasn’t been able to adapt quickly enough to please supporters or the decision makers at Ibrox. While Pena isn’t a bad player, it looks like it’s just been a case of wrong place at the wrong time for the 27-year-old and a return to Mexico suits everyone. The more technical and tactical style of play in Mexico seems to suit Pena much more than the kick and rush football often on show in Scotland and hopefully Rangers can manage to recoup as much of the £2.2million they paid for him as possible.
In other Rangers news, a defender has agreed terms for a temporary Ibrox exit.

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