You cannot blame any club for showing a degree of ambition. But, in hindsight, maybe it was a mistake to go so public with their interest in Rangers’ £3 million man.
Because Rapid Bucharest, the Romanian runners-up hoping to reduce the gap between themselves and champions FCSB at the top of the table, never really had a realistic shot at bringing Ianis Hagi home.
Shareholder Dan Sucu confirmed in August that Rapid ‘really wanted’ Hagi through the door.
Fellow boss Victor Angelescu then confirmed that talks had taken place with the Rangers misfit. He would have been ‘very happy’ to tie up a deal for the man who secured Romania their place in Euro 2024 with a stunner against Israel in the qualifiers.
But perhaps Rapid Bucharest should have taken a leaf out of the FCSB book.
The club formerly known as Steaua Bucharest announced that they would not be pursuing Hagi before last week’s deadline, indicating that the Turkish-born 25-year-old was simply too high-profile and too high-cost an acquisition.
And, as reporter Alin Buzarin would explain to GSP it was just ‘not possible’ for to Hagi swap Rangers for Rapid – even if he wanted to – due to the sheer size of his wages.
Ianis Hagi stays at Rangers despite Romania rumours
Marius Sumudica, the man who replaced Celtic legend Neil Lennon in the Rapid Bucharest dugout, admits that he touched base with Hagi in the dying embers of the transfer window.
But, as expected, the former Genk and Fiorentina youngster had little interest in leaving Ibrox for a league eleven places lower down than the Scottish Premiership in UEFA’s coefficient rankings.
“I spoke with him,” Sumudica tells Pro Sport when asked why Rapid’s public pursuit of Hagi ended in failure. “He called me. I have a good relationship with him.
“He told me that his option was to stay abroad. He wants to fight. He has a great personality, he will surely fight to the last drop of sweat to prove that he deserves to play there (at Rangers).
“There is little to no chance of him coming. I don’t know what will happen next. It is very difficult for him to return to the domestic league.”
Sumudica believes that, even if Hagi was keen on a Romania homecoming, he would wait for an offer from former employers FCV Farul Constanta rather than take up an opportunity at either Rapid Bucharest or FCSB.
Nedim Bajrami ahead in Philippe Clement’s pecking order
Legendary former Rangers striker Kris Boyd has expressed his hope that, with the Scottish transfer window now shut, Hagi can still earn a place back in Philippe Clement’s plans, the playmaker having confirmed he remains at his manager’s call.
The chances of that happening look very slim indeed, however. Particularly after Rangers snapped up Nedim Bajrami from Sassuolo on deadline day.
“There is not really a development for the moment,” Clement said when asked if Hagi could be re-integrated.
“We spoke about that months ago, really open and honest with his agent. We don’t see him becoming the next number ten for Rangers for the next couple of years, and to look out for other opportunities.
“So that story stays the same. And for sure, with Bajrami now in the building, you have this situation.”
