If you happen to be a gifted young footballer who has fallen on hard times and slipped down the pecking order, well there are worse places to look to for inspiration than Rangers.
As the likes of Cyriel Dessers, Nico Raskin and Mohamed Diomande aim a shushing finger in the direction of their red-faced doubters, Ianis Hagi’s Rangers redemption arc continues to be one of 2024/25’s biggest talking points.
This time last year, Hagi was struggling on loan with Deportivo Alaves in La Liga. In fact, only a few months ago, he was on the fringes at Rangers.
His number seven shirt snatched away, dumped in the reserves, and with Philippe Clement using the media to tell the Romania international that he had no future at Ibrox owing to a contract wrangle which left Hagi with one foot and at least a few toes out the door.
Few would have dared to guess, heading into 2025, that he would be back in favour, Gers legend Kris Boyd saying Ianis Hagi deserves ‘enormous credit’ for the way he has bounced back.
Even fewer would have imagined that the £3 million signing from KRC Genk would be one of the first names on Clement’s teamsheet.
Andy Halliday blown away by Ianis Hagi at Rangers
As comebacks go, this is up there with Johnny Cash’s ‘American’ trilogy, albeit without the ‘Hurt’.
Andy Halliday, the former Rangers midfielder, worked briefly with Hagi after he arrived in Glasgow initially on a loan deal five years ago this month. And while the son of Romania legend Gheorghe would leave his fellow boys in blue somewhat exasperated at times, with footballing free-spirits like this, the rough is worth stomaching for the promise of sweet, sweet smooth.
“Do you know what it was, as a teammate, it was frustrating [to play with Hagi],” Halliday recalls. “But I respected him so much. Fearless, always trying to create, to play a positive pass. And, as a teammate, sometimes it would be frustrating because he could lose the ball three or four times in a row.
“But see, the best players, they don’t care about that. They will try and create a chance and play forward.”
Looking forward is just what Ianis Hagi does. Not just on the pitch but off it too.
Rather than wallowing in self-pity after the most testing time of his career, rather than throwing his toys out of the pram and demanding a move, he has got his head down, puffed his chest out, and responded with his finest string of performances to date.
Hagi’s brace during Rangers’ 4-0 thrashing of Ross County on Sunday takes his tally to three goals and five assists from just 12 Premiership starts this term. And while questions have been asked of Philippe Clement’s handling of the Hagi situation, Halliday cannot help but bring Sam Lammers into the equation.
Hagi quality makes Sam Lammers deal even more confusing
Why on earth, he wonders, did Rangers pay £3 million to bring Lammers to Ibrox in the summer of 2023 while farming Hagi out to Alaves?
The Dutchman would leave Rangers after just two goals and 31 very forgettable appearances.
“The amount of goal contributions he has made since he’s come in [to the team], it’s unbelievable,” Halliday adds. “It kind of makes a mockery of what Rangers have done in the past.
“I mean, they signed Sam Lammers to replace Ianis. How has it got to that stage? Now, they are obviously trying to sign him on a new deal.”
Clement confirmed as much back in January.
While reports claim that Rangers are yet to offer Ianis Hagi a new deal, that is expected to change.
“Ianis will be at the end of his contract in May, so there will be negotiations around that. If it’s possible or not,” Clement explains. “I don’t have a clue what numbers he has in mind or the club. That’s a discussion between them.
“Of course, I’m happy with how he’s been performing. There was the situation when the season started that was out of my hands. And I’m happy with the discussions in the club, that everybody was willing -from his side and from Rangers’ side – to come together and find a solution.
“It’s been beneficial for the team, clearly.”
