Rangers might’ve undergone the biggest squad rebuild in recent memory this summer but Ianis Hagi wasn’t amongst the 16 players who left Ibrox.
But that wasn’t because Rangers weren’t actively trying to move the 26-year-old Romanian playmaker on.
After spending last season on loan at La Liga side Alaves, Ianis Hagi was expected to leave Rangers in the hunt for regular, consistent football.
But as things transpired – and with everyone around the playmaker tight-lipped on the situation – Hagi stuck around at Rangers and eventually fought his way back into the first team.
Reports have suggested that Rangers and Hagi thrashed out a deal over a pay increase clause with the midfielder’s Ibrox recovery summed up by a MOTM showing v St Johnstone at the weekend.
Now, the Romanian midfielder has addressed a press conference and revealed just how close he came to leaving Glasgow this summer.
Hagi has been linked to the likes of Ligue 1 Strasbourg and a return to Romania with Rapid Bucharest in recent transfer windows.
Ianis Hagi confirms Rangers exit talks
“In the transfer market anything can happen at that point,” Hagi said when asked about how genuine transfer interest was this summer.
“Knowing the situation that I was in, you know, obviously my age as well, being 25/26, things were up in the air. No one can deny that.
“Everybody knows that but what I made clear is that wherever I am I’m going to be 100%, B team, first-team or somewhere else, I am just going to respect football.
“Because it gave me so much and it’s the only thing that I love to do.
“As I said, in footballer everything changes every 24 hours, it’s just crazy how the dynamics change in football.
“So for me it was just about respecting football, playing football, being physically in the best shape and form every day, and then see where that brings me and we’re here now.”
Rangers star in no mood to give transfer details
Ianis Hagi was also in no mood to divulge details surrounding talks over his Rangers future this summer.
The Rangers playmaker claims that there were private discussions between himself and Philippe Clement when it came to matters purely footballing.
But with the contractual details also reportedly impacting the situation, Hagi was forced to be patient and is now just back in the team enjoying his football.
Keen to move on from the situation, the well-spoken midfielder kindly asked journalists to focus on the football because that’s exactly what he’ll will be doing.
Ianis Hagi joined Rangers in a £3m deal back in the summer of 2020 following an initially successful loan stint from Belgian Pro League side KRC Genk.
“We had a couple of discussions over the summer,” said Hagi. “Basically that was it.
“That won’t be a private talk anymore if I have to tell you exactly what we discussed.
“I don’t think that’s fair from my point of view, from his point of view. We have conversations as every player and coach has and that will stay between us.
“Right now I am just happy I can help the team.
“Those are details that should be kept between myself, my agent and the club. The gaffer as well.
“Out of respect for everyone and I think you can understand that.
“I think football and winning is the most important thing right now rather than what happened in the summer.
“I respect your questions and I think I have given as much information as I could.”
