Jefte Vital’s form is certainly leaving a lot to be desired with the APOEL Nicosia left-back ‘unrecognisable’ since his aborted January switch to Scottish Premiership challengers Rangers.
When asked to describe his style of play by reporters back home in Brazil not so long ago, Jefte highlighted his ‘skill’ and ‘creativity’, while opening up on his admiration for Real Madrid icon Marcelo.
His recent performances, however, have been less Marcelo and more miserable.
The Fluminense loanee was denied the chance to join Philippe Clement’s title-chasing Rangers ranks in January, APOEL reluctant to let the 20-year-old leave his temporary Cypriot home a few months ahead of schedule.
And whatever the reason – whether that aborted switch to Ibrox has taken it’s toll or whether the explanation is something as simple as a dip in form – Jefte, who apologised to APOEL after that winter saga, is clearly not the same player who took Cypriot football by storm on the other side of Christmas.
Rangers came close to signing Jefte Vital
“We have never seen Jefte so bad,” Goal reported after APOEL’s 0-0 draw with Anorthosis last weekend, only the home side’s wastefulness in the final third saving the out-of-form full-back from further criticism.
“Jefte Vital was so bad.”
Cyprus-based publication Shoot and Goal, meanwhile, argue that Jefte’s decline has actually been going on for a while now. In fact, it can be traced back to the end of January. Coincidentally or not, that was when his potential £400,000 move to Glasgow collapsed despite Rangers agreeing terms with Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense.
‘Unrecognisable’
“Jefte has been unrecognisable for the last month,” Shoot and Goal argue.
“The Brazilian full-back is no relation to the player who sparked Rangers’ strong interest towards the end of the January transfer window. Jefte has to raise his performance a lot to reach his known levels.”
While Ridvan Yilmaz may have secured himself a long-term future at Ibrox with a string of fine displays, Borna Barisic’s expiring contract mean Rangers will likely be in hte market for a left-back again in the summer.
It almost goes without saying that Jefte will need to turn things around – and fast – if he is to avoid further disappointment in another transfer window.
