Speaking to the Scottish Sun, former Rangers defender Dorin Goian has backed Ianis Hagi to bring success back to Ibrox, after the playmaker agreed a long-term contract with the club.
The Gers ended weeks of speculation on Wednesday evening by confirming that an agreement was in place to sign the Romania international from Genk when the transfer window officially opens.
His compatriot, Goian, who turned out 42 times for Rangers across the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons, believes the signing could be a gamechanger.
“I’m confident Ianis Hagi can help Rangers stop Celtic winning their tenth title,” he told the Scottish Sun. “I’m sure Rangers believe this too, otherwise they wouldn’t have signed him.
“They believe in Hagi and Rangers have trust in his qualities. It doesn’t matter that Celtic have won the last nine league titles.
“It depends on him, but Scottish football needs a player like Ianis Hagi. He’s a special kind of player, someone who at any time can decide a game with one moment of magic.
“That is a good environment for him to get better and I think it is a good decision for Rangers that they were able to sign Hagi.”
Verdict
The news that Hagi had agreed a long-term deal was extremely well received by the Rangers fanbase.
The stats from his loan spell over the second half of the curtailed 2019/20 season – three goals and two assists in 12 matches – don’t point to a player who lit up Scottish football.
Yet, there’s is certainly a lot to like about the 21-year-old aside from his famous ‘Ibrox baby’ comment.
He appears to be full of confidence in his own ability and while he doesn’t possess great pace, he has great vision and more quality with both feet than any other player in the squad.
He failed to shine as part of a struggling side in domestic competition in 2020 but if Rangers can start next season on the front foot, Hagi is more likely to come to the fore.
Receive a digest of our best Rangers content each week direct to your mailbox
