Summer signing Rabbi Matondo has had a difficult start to life at Rangers and it appears to have cost him a spot at an historic World Cup for the Wales national team.
Robert Page has guided the British nation to their first World Cup for over 60 years, with the country last qualifying for the tournament in 1958.
Qatar 2022 will be only the second time Wales have made the World Cup and for that reason every Welsh player who is called up to the team stands to make history.
History has also shown us that it might be the last time the country makes the tournament for quite some time.
For that reason, Rabbi Matondo will surely be bitterly disappointed to miss out on a place in Rob Page’s Wales squad as his poor start to life at Rangers costs him dearly.
Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo misses out on Wales World Cup squad
The Ibrox side paid a reported £2.5m to sign 21-year-old right winger Matondo from Schalke 04 in the summer after the ex-Man City kid impressed on loan at Cercle Brugge last season.
Rabbi Matondo netted 10 goals in Belgium last season and there were high hopes that the Wales star could fill the troublesome right-wing void which has plagued Rangers in recent seasons.
But it’s clear the player is going to need some time to settle and he already has a job on his hands convincing an expectant and unforgiving Ibrox support who are yet to be convinced of the player.
Rangers fans have had a habit of writing players off too early in the past and there is a reason why Schalke reportedly paid £11m to sign the kid in 2019, but the pressure cooker of Ibrox can either make you or break you as a player.
The winger started this week’s 1-0 win over Hearts at Ibrox and – despite showing flashes of his ability during the initial months of his Rangers tenure – once again flattered to deceive.
The Wales exclusion will hurt the pacey wide man but having been offered the opportunity on the big stage at Rangers, Rabbi Matondo will need to look at himself and ask why he never grabbed the chance to force himself into Rob Page’s plans.
Matondo has 11 caps for the Welsh national team and joins fellow Welshman Tom Lawrence in missing out on the World Cup squad, the Rangers playmaker missing out through injury.
The winger has made 18 appearances in total for Rangers and is yet to score for the Ibrox club, but has laid on four assists.
Meanwhile, another Rangers star has tasted World Cup disappointment despite “leaks” to the contrary.
