The situation with Romania playmaker Ianis Hagi continues to perplex Rangers fans.
Especially since the 25-year-old continues to make headlines with his national side both at Euro 2024 and in the recent round of international fixtures.
Ianis Hagi was instrumental as the Tricolorii qualified for their first major tournament since Euro 2016 and has once again been making an impact in the UEFA Nations League.
This time, Hagi came off the bench to play a key role in Romania’s UEFA Nations League C Group 2 win over Lithuania.
And it’s had plenty at Rangers scratching their heads as to why the midfielder isn’t being afforded an opportunity to make an impact at Ibrox.
Ianis Hagi wins Romania UEFA Nations League penalty
Ianis Hagi remains a popular and influential figure in Romanian football, largely owing to his famous father and ex-Barcelona, Real Madrid and Galatasaray star Gheorghe Hagi.
But the ex-Fiorentina and Genk playmaker is a talented footballer in his own right and once again proved it in Romania’s 3-1 defeat of Lithuania in Bucharest.
With the score tied at 1-1, Hagi came off the bench for the final 20 minutes of the match to eventually win a late penalty for his team.
This was duly converted by teammate Razvan Marin before Alexandru Mitrita made sure of the points in injury time.
Hagi also came off the bench in the thumping 3-0 Romania win away to Kosovo, with the nation now proudly sitting atop their group’s standings.
It’s been a noble contribution from Hagi at international level, with the playmaker now set to head back to Ibrox and turn out for the Rangers B team after failing to find a new club this summer.
Why are Rangers not playing Ianis Hagi?
So why is it not as easy as simply bringing Ianis Hagi back into the fold at Rangers?
Much of the situation pertains to money.
With Hagi on 99 games for Rangers, should the Gers play the attacking midfielder again it will reportedly trigger a pay-rise in Hagi’s contract.
There are also as of yet unconfirmed murmurs that his 100th game at Rangers will trigger a payment to Belgian side Genk.
Rangers signed a £3m deal with Genk to bring Hagi to Ibrox permanently in the summer of 2020.
The Gers are operating on a tight budget and have had to work through the confines of this all summer long.
Ianis Hagi – having spent much of the last two and a half seasons on the sidelines – is apparently not deemed worthy of the financial implications of playing him.
Philippe Clement has made repeatedly clear that Ianis Hagi is not part of his plans and suggested there was agreement that the playmaker would leave Rangers this summer.
“We spoke about that months ago,” Clement said. “Really open and honest with his agent also.
“That we don’t see him to become the next ‘number 10’ for Rangers for the next couple of years and to look out for other opportunities.
“So that story stays the same and for sure, with (Nedim) Bajrami now in the building, you have this situation.”
However the options on the table for the player – such as taking a wage cut to return to Romania with Rapid Bucharest – were not deemed suitable.
It’s resulted in Hagi making a public appeal to return to the Rangers fold but so far it has fallen on deaf ears.
Despite grabbing the attentions of Ibrox supporters on Instagram and during the international break, this is unlikely to change as things stand.
Hagi too has had his own role to play in the entire fiasco.
Handed a new contract heading into the summer of 2023 by then manager Michael Beale, Hagi forced a loan move away from Rangers with Deportivo Alavés in Spain.
Had the attacking midfielder stayed and fought for his place then perhaps there might still be a slot for him in the Rangers squad.
Now, Hagi is a victim of circumstance and – whatever he achieves with Romania – is unlikely to ever kick a ball for the Gers again.
