Rabbi Matondo shows flickers of Rangers hope v Livingston as the club looks to replace Ryan Kent and Leeds United join Cardiff City in being linked to the attacker.
Heading into the summer, the young Welsh international’s Ibrox career looked to be over before it had even started with last season’s £2m switch not working out as things stand.
Combined with reported high wages, Rangers’ move for then Schalke 04 forward Rabbi Matondo was one of the club’s biggest outlays and the failure of it compounded a season of misery in Govan.
But with new life breathed into Rangers, and new hope surrounding Michael Beale’s side, Rabbi Matondo finally showed a flash against Livingston that he could yet offer something in Glasgow.
Coming off the bench and, alongside Abdallah Sima, changing the momentum of the game against the Lions, Matondo was a direct, purposeful and effective attacking option for the side.
Helping the club up the pitch and using his electric pace and unpredictable dribbling to great effect, there were shoots of positivity for a player whom negativity has become the norm.
Signs of Rabbi Matondo positivity v Livingston
Rangers have several high-profile gaps in the squad to plug and Rabbi Matondo is at a crucial crossroads in his footballing career.
Michael Beale has claimed that the club are yet to replace the £7m influence of Ryan Kent in this transfer window, whilst Saudi-bound Fashion Sakala is a player the Rangers boss admits he was “counting on” this season.
It all points to attacking investment but Rabbi Matondo now has a chance to prove that he has what it takes to handle the Rangers pressure with opportunities aplenty in the weeks ahead.
There is a reason why Schalke reportedly signed an £11m deal to sign the winger from Man City in 2019, whilst Matondo’s ten goal season at Cercle Brugge proves that there is still something there.
The cameo showing against Livingston comes as Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo is being linked with a return down south, the winger having taken in Leeds United’s recent 2-2 draw with former club Cardiff City.
It means there are some big decisions for the 22-year-old to take in the weeks ahead but it certainly feels like its now or never for Rabbi Matondo as Rangers look to the squad to stand up in the face of departures.
