Philippe Clement claims Fabio Silva could’ve earned higher wages by signing elsewhere but joined Rangers due to his trophy ambitions.
Speaking after the Portuguese attacker, 21, made his Ibrox debut in the 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock, the Rangers manager has been expanding on the Wolves hitman’s loan move.
Signed for £35m from FC Porto only a few seasons ago, the Molineux side still have high hopes for the striker who has struggled to leave a consistent mark on the Premier League.
Having spent last season on loan at Anderlecht and then PSV Eindhoven, a six month stint at Rangers is ahead but interestingly it’s the club’s trophy ambitions and not the wage packet which has lured Fabio Silva to Ibrox.
Philippe Clement in Fabio Silva Rangers wage claim
Speaking to the press after the victory over Kilmarnock, Rangers boss Philippe Clement was asked about the debut handed to Fabio Silva.
The striker replaced Cyriel Dessers with around 20 minutes to play at Ibrox and the Rangers boss revealed after the game the hitman rejected more money to join the Gers squad.
The comments come amid suggestions from an Italian journalist that Rangers would be picking up the bulk of the Wolves attacker’s wages.
“So at the end he could go to places where he could earn much more money but he came for the football story and for the tradition of the club also and to win trophies, because he’s somebody who is really ambitious,” said Clement.
“So it was good for him to get this first impression about things and in this 20 minutes you didn’t have this feeling it was a player who didn’t know his teammates.
“So that’s already a very positive thing because it’s not easy for an attacking player to come into a new team that you don’t know the other guys and how to run and how to play and who gives the decisive balls and who likes to dribble and all these things you need to learn and you need to get connection with them.”
Wolves striker a versatile attacking option
Rangers manager Philippe Clement was also asked about how he plans to utilise Fabio Silva in his squad with the hitman coming on as a striker against Kilmarnock.
The Ibrox gaffer is clear that Silva will be utilised in several positions including the striker berth as and when Rangers need him.
“First I think it’s always great if a player does a good thing in training, and he did yesterday, to give him minutes at Ibrox because it’s a magical place to play the first time” said Clement. “And he had to feel it also.
“So then you go also with that feeling into this break and it’s different to when you were on the bench all the time.
“He understands the story. We had a lot of talks before he came, about football, about how I see players playing.
“We spoke about several positions, not only one, that he can play in several positions and how I see that.”
Fabio Silva was once touted for the very top of the game with Philippe Clement signing a talented young player once likened to Cristiano Ronaldo.
