Rangers playmaker Ianis Hagi knows what it’s like to have the weight of expectation of your shoulders.
The son of Romania legend Gheorghe, Ianis Hagi has spent the bulk of his career standing on the shoulders of the Barcelona, Real Madrid and Galatasaray giant.
It’s that expectation that has seen Ianis Hagi reclaim his place in the Rangers XI and the 26-year-old is fast becoming one of the club’s most effective players.
But also one of Rangers’ most experienced footballers, Hagi has identified one Ibrox talent who has everything a player needs to shine in Glasgow.
Ianis Hagi on ‘really talented’ Bailey Rice
Bailey Rice has had to patient being introduced to the Rangers team but the 18-year-old finally looks set to get his chance.
Rice is one of Scottish football’s brightest talents and Rangers pulled off a coup bringing the kid to Ibrox from Motherwell two years ago.
Michael Beale then tipped Rice for the big time before Clement put the brakes on the player’s development due to his work off the ball.
With Kieran Dowell out of the picture at Rangers, Rice is to be given the chance to shine in the Ibrox first-team and Ianis Hagi reckons the kid has what it takes to make the grade.
“I think he’s a really talented player since he first came with the first team,” Hagi told the press after scoring a double in the 4-0 win over Ross County.
“As every young player you learn, you gain experience by playing. He’s doing this right now and he has to take as much as he can, learn as much as he can and he’ll definitely have a bright future.
“To perform at a club like Rangers, we’re not just talking about Old Trafford, we’re talking about Ibrox as well. Just performing every three days at Rangers is not an easy job and doing that at a really young age.
“In my opinion, you can’t learn and teach this. You either are born with it or not.
“He obviously feels comfortable playing for Rangers and that’s a really big step already but there’s so much more into the game that you have to learn.”
Ianis Hagi’s door ‘always open’ to Bailey Rice
Bailey Rice has the backing of Ianis Hagi but the Rangers midfielder insists that it won’t go to the youngster’s head.
Rice is one of several young players coming out of Scotland who’re expected to make a big impact on the beautiful game but there’s a long way for the midfielder to go.
Ianis Hagi claims Rice is someone who is always open to improving and the Romanian has kept his door open should the teenager need a mentor to aid his development.
“He’s a kid that really listens and he’s open to learning,” said Hagi.
”He’s a really talented player and as I said, every minute, every training, every second of it, just try to get as much information as possible into yourself and that will definitely help and he’ll definitely have a bright future.
“If I have the opportunity [to mentor him], definitely. If he comes to ask, I’m always open. I’m not that guy who just goes around and tries to make myself important around him.
”He’ll learn, he’s a smart guy and we have experienced players in the squad so whenever he feels like he needs advice, we are there for him.”
