It’s not every day a former Rangers star is being watched by the Old Lady of Juventus.
But that’s precisely the case for one former Ibrox hero whose brief stay in Glasgow was not only profitable for the Gers, but proved Rangers capable of developing top young talents.
Italy’s most successful club are in the midst of a youthful revolution, five years on from surrendering a 10-year Serie A dominance established under the leadership of a famous vecchia guardia Italiana.
Led by young Brazilian manager Thiago Motta, the black and white giants of Turin have cast their glances Stateside with a former Rangers talent firmly in their crosshairs.
Rangers missed out on permanent Malik Tillman deal
The story of Malik Tillman at Rangers is one we get the feeling we’ll be writing about a lot in the coming seasons.
One of Bayern Munich’s brightest talents, Rangers struck a coup to sign Tillman on a year-long loan-to-buy following that run to the Europa League Final in 2022.
Ross Wilson might be maligned in Rangers circles, but the former Ibrox sporting director was hailed in Germany for the creative structure of the deal to sign the young US international.
Such was the attacking midfielder’s success at Rangers the buy option of £5m looked a snip, and so it proved when Bayern immediately activated Tillman’s buy-back clause.
A season long loan at PSV Eindhoven then followed – where Malik was involved as Beale’s blues were battered in Holland – before Rangers raked in seven-figures from Tillman’s £13m permanent sale this summer.
It’s a big fee to pay but it was only a few months ago that the Eredivisie champions’ technical director Earnest Stewart branded Tillman an ‘incredible talent’.
Now, only months on from moving to the Netherlands permanently, one of European football’s biggest clubs have cast their glances towards the Philips Stadion.
Malik Tillman ‘one of three’ on Juventus radar
According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, Juventus are looking to build something of a young American contingent in northern Italy.
Young USA internationals Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah are already in the Turin club’s squad, whilst the Italian giants reportedly have their eye on three more North American stars.
It’s said that the Bianconeri have had their scouts out watching Lille’s Canadian forward Jonathan David as they look to bolster their frontline.
The Italian giants are also reportedly casting glances towards the USA team too with two young American internationals in their sights.
Ricardo Pepi – who also plays for PSV Eindhoven – is the subject of discussions within the Juventus recruitment team alongside ex-Rangers forward Malik Tillman.
Whilst it’s not clear how much the former Bayern kid could command, we expect it might be some way north of the £13m PSV paid to sign Tillman only a few months ago.
Rangers fans are starting to get used to these loan talents stealing their hearts before leaving them broken.
As the years roll by we might well regret never getting a permanent deal for Malik Tillman over the line as the talented forward catches the eye at one of European football’s top clubs.
