Umaro Balde took part in a Q+A for the Rangers Youth Development Company on Twitter on Thursday morning.
The Portuguese teenager who had previously been attached to Sporting Lisbon, joined the Gers in the summer.
Since then, he’s featured at U18 level for the club, alongside other recent additions like Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Nathan Young-Coombes, who starred for England U17s during the international block.
Young-Coombes celebrates netting against Germany at the Pinatar Arena in Spain. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images for DFB)
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As is customary for these Q+A’s, young Balde took over the RYDC Twitter feed and answered a range of questions put to him by the fans.
Hi it’s @umarobalde08 thanks for all your questions I look forward to answering them for @rfc_rydc pic.twitter.com/wSF2sjCaA7
— Rangers Youth DC (@rfc_rydc) October 17, 2019
There were a number of interesting responses, from a player who’s clearly enjoying his time in Glasgow so far.
In fact, in response to one supporter’s question, he stated that joining the Gers was the ‘best thing that has ever happened’ to him.
Very much. Everyone at Rangers has really helped me – staff and players. I am very happy to be here. Moving to Rangers is the best thing that has ever happened to mehttps://t.co/NEWOIIcjzv
— Rangers Youth DC (@rfc_rydc) October 17, 2019
What’s more, he’s clearly not satisfied by his current level and is keen to progress through the levels at the club.
Asked how long he thought it would take for him to challenge for a first-team spot, he stated that he was already primed to contribute, be that in training or on the pitch.
I am ready now if I get the opportunity to train or play with the first teamhttps://t.co/lxZhxZnPbd
— Rangers Youth DC (@rfc_rydc) October 17, 2019
Yes when I go to Ibrox for games the Rangers fans always say hello and welcome me to the club. I am training hard and my dream is to play for the Rangers first team for a long time https://t.co/W2wKtOUCwU
— Rangers Youth DC (@rfc_rydc) October 17, 2019
It’s great to see a young player speak so positively about the club and to target making a breakthrough into Steven Gerrard’s squad.
That might be a while off yet for Balde, though.
He’s still young and hasn’t yet gained sufficient experience at Development or Colts level from which to call upon at senior level.
What’s more, as a central defensive midfielder, there are some top players ahead of him at the club.
In Ryan Jack, Steven Davis and Glen Kamara, he has three different but highly capable operators to look up to and to model his game on.
If he can do that successfully and put the graft in, perhaps we’ll see him running out at Ibrox a few years down the line.