Amid all the excitement surrounding a potential homecoming of Rangers’ £3 million forgotten man, something rather important might have gone a little understated.
Yes, Rapid Bucharest would love to bring Ianis Hagi back to Romania.
Dan Sucu, a shareholder of the Rapid Giulesti Stadium confirmed as much this week, admitting ‘we really want him‘ when discussing the prospect of rescuing a man currently training with Rangers’ reserves after being dumped from Philippe Clement’s first-team plans.
Viorel Moldovan, the president of Rapid Bucharest, goes one step further. He confirms that talks have already taken place, while expressing his desire to see Hagi jump-start his career back in familiar surroundings.
“Ianis Hagi is a high value player that I think every club wants,” Moldovan told Digi Sport. “We’ll see. We have some discussions, we’ll see how they go. I hope he’ll be interested in coming to Rapid.
“That’s the most important thing.”
Rapid Bucharest confirm talks with Rangers’ Ianis Hagi
But there is a reason why Rapid’s dream transfer, according to reporter Alin Buzarin, is just that. A dream.
‘Rosy idealism’, he calls it.
According to Buzarin, writing in GSP, Sucu has been blinded to an extent by his success in the business world. His ‘nothing is impossible’ approach does not really translate into the sphere of football, where the gap in finances from one club to another a colossal and even Romania’s biggest clubs live well down the food chain.
“It would be nice (for Rapid to sign Hagi), but it’s not possible,” Buzarin explains. “Because of the difference in salary.”
Hagi is reported to earn £25,000-a-week at Ibrox.
Unless the former Fiorentina and Genk starlet is willing to accept a sizeable pay cut, then it is a salary Rapid Bucharest will be unable to match. Even suggestions that Rangers would be willing to terminate Hagi’s contract and let him leave for free – per Tuttomercatoweb – does little to help Rapid’s cause.
“Let’s say that Ianis would come to free and that he would accept a salary of 30 t0 35 thousand euros (a month). Almost a quarter of what he now earns in Glasgow. But where would it come from?,” Buzarin asks.
Ibrox exits on the cards for multiple players
There is also another rather awkward question staring the Rapid bosses in the face.
With his 26th birthday approaching, a return to Romania would do very little to benefit Hagi’s already stuttering reputation. There is unlikely to be any European football, while his status in the national team could be damaged too at a time in which many of his colleagues are playing at a higher level.
“His level would drop and next summer, when he will already be almost 27 years old, it will be very difficult for him to return to that Western football whose quality air he used to breathe,” Buzarin adds.
“Now, let the world not get upset on an honest opinion; the first Romanian league means absolutely nothing to Ianis.”
Hagi, who lost his number seven shirt to Oscar Cortes, is one of a number of Rangers players who could leave before the window closes.
Todd Cantwell has been exiled from the first team too after handing in a transfer request, while Blackburn Rovers admitted their interest in Rabbi Matondo too this week.
