Rangers midfielder Jose Cifuentes is hoping to create ‘something very beautiful’ with Cruzeiro after leaving the Scottish Premiership leaders for a loan spell in Brazil.
After being made to wait for his debut at the South American outfit – the Ecuador international’s impact delayed by red tape – Jose Cifuentes was finally spotted in Cruzeiro colours for the very first time this weekend.
The former LAFC ace, who joined Rangers for £1.2 million last summer but struggled to make an impact this side of The Atlantic, played the final 30 minutes of Saturday’s 2-0 win at Pouso Alegre.
And, after a frustrating spell in Scotland, Cifuentes sounds very much like a man champing at the bit and determined to make up for lost time in Brazil.
Jose Cifuentes finally makes Cruzeiro debut
“Arriving and wearing this Cruzeiro shirt is very exciting,” the 24-year-old tells Itatiaia. “Something very beautiful.
“Every player dreams of something like this. The best thing is that (my debut) happened with a victory. My intention of coming was to join the many great players who are at the club. I’m here to help and to learn from them.”
Cruzeiro, who finished 14th in the Brazilian top flight last term, added Cifuentes to a squad which also contains former Real Madrid and Marseille starlet Lucas Silva and Porto loanee Gabriel Veron.
There is an option-to-buy clause in Cifuentes’ contract. Though it remains to be seen whether Rangers can make a profit on their £1.2 million investment.
Rangers may look to sell midfielder in the summer
“We had to win,” Cifuentes adds, speaking after that Pouso Alegre victory. “Working and the team united as it is, we will be successful.”
Cifuentes made only nine Scottish Premiership appearances for The Gers. He was allowed to leave by Philippe Clement following the January arrival of Mohamed Diomande from Nordsjaelland.
The latter, meanwhile, has already exceeded the impact of the former. Diomande scored his second Rangers goal already with a fizzing strike from distance in Saturday’s five-star, five-goal showing at home to Hearts.
