The story of Rabbi Matondo’s Hannover career, since arriving on loan from Rangers in the winter transfer window, has been a tale of ‘close but not quite’.
To borrow a quote from Hannover’s official website, Rabbi Matondo enjoyed an ‘almost perfect’ debut in Germany’s second tier.
A stunning solo effort mere moments after coming off the bench looked to give the Welshman’s new side the win at home to Hamburg. That was, however, until Jean-Luc Dompe scrubbed the sheen of Rabbi Matondo’s mesmerising finish to level the scores at 2-2 before the end.
Making his first Hannover start a few days later, the Rangers loanee again stood out head and shoulders above most on the pitch. Another fine individual display still wasn’t enough, however, as Andre Breitenreiter’s team were again held to a draw, this time by Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Considering the circumstances behind his switch to the Niedersachsenstadion – Rabbi Matondo had been frozen out by Philippe Clement at Ibrox while missing much of the season through injury – Breitenreiter was wary of demanding too much too soon.
Matondo’s flying start, then, is maybe beyond the expectations of even the most optimistic Hannover supporter
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Rabbi Matondo continues to impress after leaving Rangers for Hannover
“Rabbi Matondo is a player with great quality,” smiles former Schalke coach Breitenreiter. “He did really well.”
Having not played over 80 minutes in a single game since August, Matondo’s influence understandably waned as exhaustion set in against Fortuna Dusseldorf. A point Breitenreiter was keen to make when asked why he subbed off the winger – Matondo finished second in the fans’ Man of the Match poll – just past the hour mark.
But if this is what a half-fit Matondo can do, just imagine the influence he could make with more minutes in his legs and more time on the training pitch.
Breitenreiter feels that Matondo brings something new to the Hannover ranks, due to his ability to breeze past full-backs with a burst of acceleration or a snake-hipped shimmy.
“We haven’t had such a one-on-one player,” striker Nicolo Tresoldi agrees. “We already saw in Hamburg what qualities he has. Now, he has to show that every week.
“Rabbi is a super boy, very polite and down-to-earth. It’s fun to play with him.”
Barry Ferguson hopes Rangers can sell Matondo this summer
‘Fun’ was certainly in short supply during a difficult final few months in Glasgow, Rangers green-lighting a deal which could see Rabbi Matondo leave Ibrox permanently to the tune of just £1 million.
By his own admission, a player who set the Gers back £3 million in the summer of 2023 endured ‘a tough’ time between July and January, injuries restricting his progress before Clement shunted both he and Kieran Dowell to the periphery.
As Dowell bursts back into life at Birmingham City – the midfielder opened his Blues account in the 4-0 midweek thrashing of Cambridge United – Matondo too is living proof of the benefits provided by a change of scenery and a fresh challenge.
Former Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson thinks Matondo’s exit suits everyone involved. While Bailey Rice inherits the minutes previously going to Kieran Dowell, Findlay Curtis will be hoping that a space has now opened up on the left-hand side of Clement’s attack for another 18-year-old to stamp his authority on the squad.
“I think it was best for both parties. [Matondo] wasn’t really involved. His career has been biting with injuries,” Ferguson tells Go Radio.
“I believe he was a high-earner as well.
“He’ll go over there on loan until the end of the season and if he impresses, Rangers can obviously try and claw back a bit of the transfer fee they paid.
“If he does well, they can hopefully cash in on him.”
