Ryan Kent might’ve been the perfect subplot to Rangers’ Europa League clash with Fenerbahce.
But instead the former Rangers winger is trying to negotiate a new home for his crocodiles as the Ibrox club travel to Turkey.
Only 18 months on from when Ryan Kent left Rangers, the Gers are to face the Fenerbahce side which the ex-Liverpool winger went on to join.
But after Kent was unceremoniously released from his contract at Fenerbahce, there will be no glorious homecoming for one of the Gers’ most notable former players.
Ryan Kent released from Fenerbahce by ‘mutual consent’
Ryan Kent was an instrumental part of that famous Rangers run to the Europa League Final in Seville back in 2022.
It was the winger’s exploits on the continental stage that convinced Fenerbahce to plunge after Kent was released by Rangers.
This was bitter enough for Rangers fans, the club having lost a £7m player in Ryan Kent for nothing at the end of his contract.
Fotomac claimed that Kent was offered a £1.5m per annum contract to join the Turks, meaning the winger was banking the guts of £30k per week in Istanbul.
But it did not go to plan for Kent in Turkey, with the winger initially brought to Istanbul by Ismail Kartal.
Ryan Kent made one Super Lig start for Fenerbahce last season – in an opening day victory over Gaziantep – and was eventually bombed out of the side in the latter half of the campaign.
Scoring just one goal for the club, in a UECL qualifier against Zimbru Chisinău, there were teething problems which Kent never seemed to get over.
Under Jose Mourinho, things weren’t going to get any better.
Despite playing a role in an early Champions League qualifier against Lugano, Kent never took his chance under the Portuguese and eventually the situation told.
The winger eventually wound up training alone amid rumours of disciplinary issues within the club.
Amid reports Kent was considering the Court of Arbitration for Sport due to his treatment, the winger’s contract was eventually terminated by ‘mutual consent’ back in October.
Ex-Rangers winger still without a club
Ryan Kent is still without a club five months on from being released by Fenerbahce.
Rangers had been tipped to return for Kent this winter, the winger’s exploits still fresh in the memory for an Ibrox team desperately short of width.
Philippe Clement even answered questions on Ryan Kent with the Belgian having tried to sign the attacker during his time in charge of Club Brugge.
But as things stand, Fenerbahce will now host Rangers and travel to Glasgow without the tricky winger who has had a potential homecoming spoiled by his experience in Turkey.
As for what’s next for Ryan Kent, no-one really knows that but Ryan Kent himself.
The winger has been linked with the likes of Burnley and Ipswich Town south of the border but so far no such move has been forthcoming.
The ex-Rangers star went viral when reports in Iran suggested Ryan Kent and his pet crocodiles had agreed a move to Persepolis, who are now managed by Kartal.
So far there has been no official confirmation of this and as things stand, the 28-year-old is now without a club.
