Rangers have a decision to make regarding one member of Philippe Clement’s squad this summer. Fortunately, the player himself might have just made that decision a little bit more straightforward. Even if the £3 million forgotten man of Ibrox found his way back in Glasgow this summer, finding a place for him in Clement’s squad would likely be easier said than done. The Rangers boss has Todd Cantwell and Tom Lawrence – so impressive since his pre-Christmas appointment – fighting it out for the number ten spot, and that is without mentioning Kemar Roofe and Sam Lammers. Clement has also suggested that Rabbi Matondo’s future may lie through the middle. So the best case scenario, for Rangers and Ianis Hagi, may well be a permanent parting of the ways.
The Romania international was farmed out on loan to Deportivo Alaves after a serious knee injury limited his involvement in Glasgow.
And, while things haven’t really gone to plan in the Basque Country, Hagi has his heart set on staying in Spain, feeling that the slower, more technical style of football in La Liga better suits his skillset.
“I love the level of La Liga. I love everything in Spain; the teams, the competition between players and teams, the pressure that exists here…” Hagi tells Marca. “I feel that it is the league in which I can be most successful, and in which I can bring out all my qualities. “And it is the league that I have followed since I was a child. It was always my dream to be here. I’m here now, and I want to be here for a long time.
“Yes, it is where I want to be,” the former Genk ace added when asked if he sees himself still being a La Liga player in 12 months’ time. “It is the football in which I want to grow. It is the football that I believe can unlock the best version of me. “I’ve only been here 6-7 months and I already feel like I’m a better player.” Alaves supporters may have a less complimentary verdict of Hagi’s time in Spain, given that he’s started only six games so far and has missed more penalties than he’s scored goals. Alaves appear unlikely to pursue a permanent deal as things stand.
But that does not mean there aren’t other clubs in Spain’s top flight willing to take a punt on a player who has a lot more to offer than he’s shown over a difficult two-year spell.
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