Bruno Alves didn’t live up to expectations during his short stint at Rangers.
He arrived with a big reputation. A European Championship winner with Portugal and domestic champion in Turkey and Russia as well as with Porto, in his homeland.
Yet, in much the same way as Gareth McAuley is currently struggling, injuries held Alves back.
There was an impression that he never quite got up to full speed at Ibrox.
However, since leaving to join Parma, his fortunes have considerably improved.
As club captain, he has led the newly promoted club to
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On Saturday, he was at it again during a trip to lowly Empoli.
With the match finely poised at 2-2, he looked to have secured all three points in the 82nd minute.
After his teammate volleyed at goal, the 37-year-old instinctively stuck out a knee, deflecting the ball into the far corner.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but awarded after a VAR consultation.
That wasn’t to be his final telling involvement, though.
In stoppage time, with his side trying to hold on for three points, he put his foot in it.
Empoli’s Silvestre attempted a speculative shot from the edge of the area which was heading wide.
This time around, Alves’ instincts got the better of him.
He stuck a leg out and diverted the ball into his own net, with the keeper rooted to the spot.
A real hero to villain turnaround, in the space of ten minutes, to end a frantic encounter.
You can see the ex-Ibrox man’s telling touches via the Serie A Youtube Channel (from 2:29 onwards)
With Rangers’ current centre-back paring in such excellent form at the minute, Steven Gerrard won’t be regretting his decision to let the Portuguese leave.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqfiXa0dWik&feature=onebox
