Former Rangers midfielder Aaron Ramsey has announced he will be new captain of the Wales national team as Tom Lawrence and Rabbi Matondo taste international disappointment.
The OGC Nice star, 31, took to social media to explain that he will taking on the Wales captain’s armband after the retirement of talismanic winger Gareth Bale.
The former Arsenal and Juventus star is clearly beaming at being made Wales captain as Aaron Ramsey promised to wear the responsibility with pride.
“I am really honoured to be chosen to be captain of Wales,” said Aaron Ramsey on Instagram.
“It’s an incredibly proud day for me and my family.
“Really excited with what the future holds and can’t wait for the new campaign to start.”
The news comes with Wales set to kick off their European Championship qualifying campaign with home clashes against Latvia and Armenia.
Aaron Ramsey named captain of Wales
The news directly impacts two current Rangers stars in Welsh international pair Tom Lawrence and Rabbi Matondo, but the duo will be watching on during this international break.
Whilst Lawrence is a regular for the Welsh team, the ex-Derby County captain has seen his season rocked by injury and is now out until after the end of the current campaign.
Rabbi Matondo has struggled to settle into the team at Rangers, despite the expensive outlay, and amid a run of injuries himself is not available for selection for this international period.
But such was the player’s downturn in form since signing for Rangers, the 22-year-old attacker had found himself out of the Wales team anyway.
Neither have been included in the country’s squad for the upcoming internationals.
Whilst we’re sure Rangers fans will wish Aaron Ramsey all the best in his stint as Wales captain, the player’s time in Scotland was not a particularly memorable one.
Arriving to much fanfare on deadline day in 2022, the midfielder toiled for fitness and amid a handful of appearances missed the decisive penalty in the Europa League Final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Meanwhile, Angus Gunn has switched his international allegiances.