Michael Stewart thinks Rangers winger Oscar Cortes exemplifies the lack of ‘desire, hunger and tenacity’ in the Rangers first-team at the moment.
Rangers have endured a difficult season and look set to go trophy-less once again if they fail to get past Athletic Club in the Europa League quarter-finals.
The Light Blues’ achilles heal is failing to back up big performances and victories – see Fenerbahce away and Celtic in the last Old Firm – with convincing displays against so-called lesser opposition.
Rangers were 3-1 down to relegation fighters Dundee at Dens Park on Saturday, only to fight back and secure a dramatic 4-3 victory.
And while the fight and spirit to come back cannot be faulted, the lack of control and dominance in games across most of this season is a huge concern.
Stewart criticises Rangers recruitment of Oscar Cortes
Stewart thinks the current Rangers first-team squad doesn’t have enough ‘aggression and intensity’ and feels Colombian winger Oscar Cortes is a prime example of that.
Cortes has been plagued with injury issues since first arriving in Glasgow in January 2024, yet Rangers will pay £3.5m to sign him permanently in the summer.
Speaking on Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club podcast, Stewart thinks many of Rangers’ problems stem back to poor recruitment.
He explained: “The biggest thing, it comes back to recruitment again, and I’ve said it umpteen times, Rangers have too many players who don’t have that natural level of aggression and intensity in their game.
“You look at the likes of Oscar Cortes, for example. In the summer, Rangers are obliged to pay £3.5m of a transfer fee for him.
“I think anybody who watched Cortes first game of the season at Tynecastle, I’ve said this before, but he came off (injured) at half-time, and you’re looking and going, ‘I don’t think there’s a great deal wrong with him’, you know?
“And I’m not saying he’s chucked it with an injury, but there’s an element of that desire, hunger and tenacity (missing).
“And I’m not just picking on him, but he’s an example of someone who’s been recruited, there’s an obligation to pay £3.5m for him, and you’re going, ‘is he the type of player we’re looking for and needing?’ And he’s not.”
Oscar Cortes this season for Rangers
Cortes has been a failure for Rangers, purely because the winger cannot stay fit. The 21-year-old clearly has talent, but fans are yet to see it consistently.
Will they ever see the best from Cortes? Well, Rangers are going to give it their best shot because he is guaranteed to sign for the Ibrox giants for £3.5m in the summer.
RC Lens will be laughing their way to the bank as they get set to receive millions for a player who has featured just seven times in the Premiership across 2024/25.
Cortes started just three times this season under Philippe Clement, with Barry Ferguson including him on the bench versus Dundee on Saturday.
He is fit again after playing in a bounce game for Rangers B during the international break, but will he get a chance to prove that his impending purchase is really worth it?
