Michael Beale is the third Rangers manager to call out the attitude and application of Alfredo Morelos.
The Colombian international has always been a streaky player in terms of his form but, since returning from an operation on his thigh last March, he has barely resembled a professional footballer.
At Rangers, Alfredo Morelos had a decent legacy but he’s ruined that with nobody to blame but himself.
El Bufalo was once linked with £20m moves due to form like his 14 goals before Christmas in Europe, his position as the Europa League’s third highest goalscorer and Rangers highest scoring foreigner, Alfredo Morelos is also the club’s all-time record goalscorer in Europe.
But this sort of form seems like a lifetime ago.
The 26-year old was never the quickest but he is painfully slow now.
His touch has deserted him and the big moments have disappeared.
It’s no wonder Michael Beale was annoyed with Morelos on Sunday. His first three touches were passes to the opposition and his first two tackles were free kicks.
It’s an easy comparison to make but, Kyogo Furuhashi across the city was firing his team to a successive league title, all whilst barely getting involved in the game.
He does his job, he scores goals, and lots of them.
Look at the goals the Japanese international has scored against Rangers recently, all tap-ins, but scored due to his movement.
Against Aberdeen, Morelos could have had an easy goal but took up position behind an opposition defender when Todd Cantwell was looking for someone to find.
Rangers fans have been conditioned, by the years of failure, to celebrate players perhaps more than they normally would.
In Europe, Morelos has been a machine, a record breaker and a match winner but on too many occasions he was posted missing domestically in Old Firms and trips to Hampden.
There is a reason why Premier League clubs have been reticent about picking up a bargain.
When Rangers had the chance to sell Alfredo Morelos for £16.25m in the summer of 2020 he was – with hindsight – at his peak.
In football, decisions are made on the here and now, we didn’t get offered what Morelos was worth.
There are also no guarantees that 55 happens or that Rangers come within a penalty of making history in Seville had we sold him.
Now though, the manager has done completely the right thing by not offering an increase on a contract that is said to in the region of £33,000 per week.
Rangers aren’t getting value for money for Alfredo Morelos as it is, a pay rise would simply be stupid.
A lot of goals but too many red cards, too many times he returned late and too many times he has turned up looking unfit and out of shape.
Thank you for the memories but it’s time to move on.
