At the end of last season, Nicolas Raskin looked to be at a crossroads with Rangers.
Having spent 18 months in Glasgow, the promising Belgian youth international had seen his career stutter as the midfielder suffered from the upheaval surrounding Rangers in recent campaigns.
Rangers had signed a highly-rated player in Nicolas Raskin, with some of Europe’s top clubs tailing the midfielder before the Ibrox club swooped.
Barcelona had been linked to Raskin, whilst ex-Belgium boss Roberto Martinez likened the midfielder to Gennaro Gattuso, formerly of this parish.
Eighteen months on from joining Rangers, it looked like it might never happen for Nico, who never really grasped his opportunities amid a spate of injuries.
But fast forward nine months and Nicolas Raskin has emerged as one of the brightest young midfielders in British football, upstaging an £11m Celtic project in the process.
Nicolas Raskin the Rangers ‘driving force’
Nicolas Raskin was crucial to Rangers’ impressive 3-2 victory over Celtic at Parkhead.
The combative midfielder, 24, opened the scoring in the match, nicking in front of the Celtic defence to flick a header into Kasper Schmeichel‘s far post.
Raskin would then also be involved in Rangers’ second goal, flicking on a James Tavernier cross to find midfield partner Mohamed Diomande. The Ivorian was never going to miss.
This was a breakthrough game for Raskin in this regard, with the midfielder’s influence in recent weeks usually consigned to snapping into tackles, breaking up attacks and acting as the springboard for the Ibrox side.
Barry Ferguson wasn’t a bad combative midfielder himself and the impact of the interim Rangers manager even in this game was clear.
Speaking about Raskin at full-time, after the midfielder had been awarded Player of the Match by Sky Sports, Ferguson labelled the kid ‘the driving force’ of the Rangers victory.
That’s even if the former Rangers captain reckons there is still more to come.
“Good, but it can get better,” said Ferguson when asked about Raskin’s performance come full-time.
“It can get better. His positional sense needs to get better, but he’s a boy who is desperate to learn and I love that in players. I say to him, listen, you can still be learning at 36, 37. When I retired, I was still learning things in the game.
“He’s got a lot of things to work on, but one thing he’s got is he’s prepared to do that and he’s prepared to listen. I think since I took over the job, he’s been a real driving force in the middle of the pitch.”
| Nicolas Raskin stats v Celtic | |
| Minutes played | 90’ |
| Goals (xG) | 1 (0.26) |
| Assists (xG) | 1 (0.12) |
| Ground duels won (%) | 7/12 (58%) |
| Aerial duels won (%) | 3/4 (75%) |
| Defensive actions | 10 |
| Passes into final third (pass accuracy overall) | 5 (58%) |
| Tackles won (%) | 2/4 (%) |
| FotMob rating | 8.8 (MOTM) |
Nicolas Raskin lands £11m Belgium blow on Old Firm rival
The role of Philippe Clement on Nicolas Raskin’s progress can’t be understated, with the Belgian manager helping to take the kid’s game to the next level.
Clement pointed to improving Raskin’s diet as a big part of the player’s progress, whilst it was Big Phil who really gave Nico free-license to go an impose himself on the Europa League this season.
It’s in the Europa League, much like the rest of the Rangers team, that fans have seen the best of Raskin this season with the midfielder one of the competition’s stand-out.
The Belgian reads the game so well and is always at the fulcrum of the Ibrox midfield, breaking up attacks with interceptions and springing forward towards goal. Raskin’s cheeky smile and positive attitude have also endeared him to fans.
It’s not just Rangers supporters who’ve taken notice either, with Raskin being called up to the Belgium national side ahead of March’s internationals.
The first squad of new Red Devils manager Rudi Garcia, uncapped Belgium hopeful Raskin gets his chance amid injuries to the likes of Aston Villa star Amadou Onana.
But Raskin has also been preferred to Celtic’s £11m record signing Arne Engles (BBC Sport), who is feeling the pressure of his hefty price tag.
Conversely, Michael Beale claims Rangers paid only £800k for Nicolas Raskin, almost 14 times the amount that Celtic paid for the Augsburg midfielder.
| Cost of Rangers team v Celtic | Cost of Arne Engels |
| Jack Butland – free | Arne Engels – £11m |
| James Tavernier – £220k | |
| Dujon Sterling – free | |
| John Souttar – free | |
| Leon Balogun – free | |
| Ridvan Yilmaz – £3.4m | |
| Connor Barron – £620k | |
| Nicolas Raskin – £800k | |
| Mohamed Diomande – £4.3m | |
| Vaclav Cerny – loan | |
| Cyriel Dessers – £4.5m | |
| TOTAL – £13.84m | TOTAL – £11m |
As Rangers took to the pitch at Celtic Park over the weekend, comparing the two you’d never know it.
Whilst Raskin has finally found his feet after two years in Glasgow, his Celtic compatriot is struggling with the weight of expectation attached to that hefty fee.
It’s a figure Rangers will hope to recoup – and then some – whenever a club in a bigger league comes calling for Raskin in the future.
Right now however, the midfielder knows he’s better served staying put with Rangers the perfect springboard to help Nico live his Chelsea dream in the seasons to come.
