Rangers’ deadline day acquisition Nedim Bajrami may be new to Scottish football.
But that does not mean the £3.5 million does not know his Aberdeens from his Airdries.
Ahead of what could be a Premiership debut during Rangers’ trip to Dundee United on Sunday afternoon, Nedim Bajrami opened up on the deal that brought him to Glasgow and the knowledge imparted on to him by a couple of former team-mates who make up part of that growing Scotland contingent on Italian soil.
Bajrami played alongside Liam Henderson – something of a trend setter when he swapped Celtic for Serie B – at Empoli. He also briefly shared a dressing room with former Hibernian left-back and one-time Rangers target Josh Doig in the second half of 2023/24 at Sassuolo.
So while Bajrami may still need some time and patience to get up to speed with the Scottish game, the Albania international at least arrives with some awareness. of what he is getting into.
Nedim Bajrami in line for Rangers debut vs Dundee United
“I signed the last day of the transfer window,” Bajrami says during his pre-Tannadice press conference, broadcast on Rangers’ official YouTube channel. “It was a really stressful day but I was really happy to join Rangers. Such a great club with history.
“Immediately, then I went to the national team so I didn’t meet everyone this day. (Friday) was my first training session. I was really happy to join the team and to meet the coach, the sporting director and everyone.
“The last five years I played in Italy, where the league is really tactical. I spoke with a few players who played in Scotland, with Josh Doig and Liam Henderson. They told me good things about Scotland and the football.
“I am really happy to be here.”
Bajrami admits that his ‘favourite’ position is the number ten role, though he can also play off the left if required.
That versatility is something that will appeal to Clement. Especially having lost Rabbi Matondo to injury and after the exiling and eventual departure of Todd Cantwell.
The Rangers boss is perhaps likely to utilise Bajrami wide on the left due to the paucity of other options in such a position. A player with ‘great technique’ and a powerful shot from distance, he could form half of a new-look, inverted wing partnership with Vaclav Cerny on the opposite flank.
Vaclav Cerny could thrive alongside Albania ace
This is the first time Bajrami and Cerny will play together, though they have gone head-to-head on the international stage in the past.
The former cancelled out the latter as they traded blows in a European Championship qualifier back in September 2023, Bajrami firing home a stunning 25-yard equaliser after Cerny had opened the scoring in an eventual 1-1 draw.
“I think it is a really good dressing room. Good guys. Good people around the team. I feel really good,” Bajrami adds. “I spoke to the coach and sporting director and I know Cerny.
“I played against him.”
Cerny is equally capable of the sort of spectacular finish Bajrami produced 12 months ago. His one and only Rangers strike – curled into the top corner against Motherwell – was Cerny’s party piece in action.
The Wolfsburg loanee also returns to club football with his confidence renewed after an impressive display during a 3-2 win over Ukraine in the Nations League.
Clement, meanwhile, plans to wait until Saturday before he makes a decision on whether to hand Bajrami – and Neraysho Kasanwirjo for that matter – a first Rangers start in Dundee.
“Nedim trained with the team for the first time today. It was for him his first minutes with the squad,” Clement says at the very same press conference.
“It doesn’t help, of course, if you don’t know even the names of your teammates when you need to start the game. He’s just in the building. But we will see. It depends on the circumstances also.
“So, I will make the decision after the training tomorrow.”
