Ianis Hagi has been cast to the sidelines since returning to Rangers from international duty in the summer.
The 25-year old playmaker has been resigned to B team matches whereas Todd Cantwell has been persona non grata.
After rejecting a move to Rapid Bucharest, the plot thickens with Hagi taking to Instagram to fire a thinly veiled barb at Rangers manager Philippe Clement.
Ianis Hagi makes feelings known in Rangers treatment dig
Speaking earlier in pre-season, the Gers boss explained why Hagi wasn’t involved:
“Is he part of my plans? No, we had clear talks before the pre-season with his agents about that,” said Clement.
“We need to look, like I said, at a lot of things in the club about wages, how many you can have in a position with the budget we have and to get the budget to get transfers.
“So, it was really clear towards him that the idea was to sell him. That is what we wanted also so that is the clear situation.”
There have been reports about a £6,000 per week pay rise clause but nothing has been confirmed by either party.
Gheorghe Hagi has expressed his frustration with Rangers but now the player himself has taken to social media:
“I’ve been aware of the noise and speculation regarding my situation, my role and my contract in the club.
“I have loved playing for Rangers and the Ibrox fans since the moment I got here.
“I want to make it clear, I have never once asked to leave this football club.
“I will always make myself available, and there’s always a way to navigate around any situation if there’s a will on both sides and that was communicated officially weeks ago by me and my team.
“I’m here, willing, and Rangers Ready to help, work, and fight for the Club, Team and Manager.”
It’s now over to Philippe Clement to make Hagi decision
Where do you start?
Ianis Hagi is certainly winning the public relations battle in terms of how it is perceived that he is being treated.
Clement explained that it wasn’t his decision for Cantwell to not be playing in the B team but never gave much away for Hagi.
He’s training regularly and setting a high standard for the rest of the academy players.
Technically, Hagi hasn’t done anything wrong and has just been dumped in the B team to train with the kids.
There are just a few days left until the transfer window closes and, with no sign of any bids for the Romania international, it looks like he is going to stay.
Hagi clearly isn’t happy, however, he has held out an olive branch, of sorts, all Philippe Clement has to do is reach out and accept it.
