Rangers missed out on Olimpiu Morutan and now the one-time Ibrox target is reportedly in line for a big move to Serie A giants Atalanta.
That is according to Italian publication Serie B News; the Romania international’s electrifying form on loan at second-tier Pisa earning him plenty admirers higher up the footballing pyramid.
Morutan has six goals and seven games this season. Comparisons with Lionel Messi may still seem a little far-fetched, but it’s easy to see now why Rangers were so keen on the jet-heeled forward towards the end of 2021.
According to Fotomac, the Glasgow giants attempted to sign Morutan on a loan-to-buy deal from Galatasaray ahead of the January transfer window 15 months ago. The Turkish giants refused to consider letting Morutan leave mid-season, however.
By the time Pisa came calling a couple, Rangers had turned their attention to the likes of Rabbi Matondo.
Rangers could have signed Romania star Olimpiu Morutan
With Matondo underwhelming, some at Rangers would be forgiven for wondering if they bet on the wrong horse.
Morutan is, after all, a target for none other than Atalanta heading into the summer window. La Dea, sixth in Italy’s top flight, have been outstanding for much of the last half-decade under Gian Piero Gasperini. Their glowing reputation for helping exciting young attackers reach hitherto unimaginable heights, meanwhile, will surely be enough to turn Morutan’s head.
Pisa have a £5 million option-to-buy clause in Morutan’s contract. The Nerazzuri, if promoted, may opt to trigger said clause. Before then selling the one-time Steuea Bucharest assist-machine for an immediate and substantial profit.
“We will discuss the transer market at the end of the season,” his agent tells La Nazione. “But I can confirm that there are many interested clubs, and that he will most likely remain in Italy.
“The picture will be clearer once we understand whether Pisa will keep him or not.”
Italy legend Andrea Pirlo, meanwhile, is among those who have been mightily impressed by Morutan’s electrifying performances since swapping Turkey for Tuscany.
“Morutan is surprising only those who didn’t know him,” Pisa president Giovanni Corrado tells La Repubblica. “I met Andrea Pirlo who coaches in Turkey (with Fatih Karagumruk). And he told me that we had signed a phenomenon.”
