One of the biggest complaints about Rangers transfer window was that Philippe Clement didn’t get enough experience.
The manager is probably still short one of two players in his squad in key positions as he worked against a budget and having to sell underperforming or high earning individuals to make room for his own signings.
The Todd Cantwell saga ended on deadline day with the playmaker giving his version of events to Sky Sports – the truth probably being somewhere in the middle.
Ianis Hagi hits Romania milestone to serve Rangers reminder
However, Ianis Hagi is still at Rangers and his latest social media post serves as a reminder as to what Clement is missing out on.
Coming on as a substitute against Kosovo, Hagi made his 40th appearance for Romania which makes him the most capped player in Rangers squad other than Leon Balogun, who has 11 years on the attacking midfielder.
Clement needs this sort of experience and he also needs someone who gets Rangers and understands what it takes to win and bring silverware back to Ibrox.
Something proven by Hagi’s comments when he signed his contract extension:
“The history that this club has pushes you every single day on the pitch and off the pitch to be a better player and a better person.
“I like to think I have left something behind me and I have given really good memories to the fans but I still feel like I haven’t done everything that I want.
“I still have a lot of things to show and give to this amazing group of people in Rangers as well as the fans, I just can’t wait until I’m back.”
Hagi sets the record straight as transfer saga rumbles on
Fast forward a year and Hagi hasn’t even been seen in first team training yet.
With transfer windows shutting around the world, his options are starting to get slimmer by the day.
The 25-year old has spoken already this summer about his desire to stay at Rangers and return to the squad professing his love for the club on social media.
What doesn’t help Hagi is the noise around him from his entourage.
If it isn’t agent, it’s his dad or another former Romania international throwing their opinion about.
It’s clearly been a source of frustration with Hagi jnr having to explain that one such person has nothing to do with his career:
“With all due respect to the media and to clarify, please stop quoting Giovanni Becali, and his comments as that of my agent or mine.
“He’s not my agent.
“I’ve been under contract with one football agency @actalent for more than four years and they’re the only people who represent and talk on my behalf.”
These same agents should be trying to negotiate some sort of compromise so that Hagi can get his boots back on and playing for Rangers.
With Rabbi Matondo injured, Rangers simply don’t have the depth to ignore a player who has done well in a major tournament and who has been playing international football since they were a teenager.
He also knows how to grab games by the scruff of the neck in from of 50,000 fans at Ibrox, and not many players in the current squad can claim that.
