Ianis Hagi is back in the fold at Rangers and back playing an influential role in the team with a MOTM performance in the win over St Johnstone.
But there was a moment when it looked like the Romanian international playmaker, 26, would never kick a ball for Rangers again.
Having come through the pain of a cruciate ligament injury, only to struggle out on loan at Alaves last season, by his own admission Hagi almost left Rangers in the summer.
But after a dispute over a wage increase was resolved, Clement reinstated Hagi back into his squad in October and since then the ex-Fiorentina talent has been making steady progress.
There have been calls aplenty amongst Rangers supporters to see Ianis Hagi given a more prominent role at Ibrox and the midfielder is just focusing on playing his football.
And now the midfielder has dropped the biggest hint yet that he sees his long-term future at Rangers, with the Romanian’s eyes firmly fixed on the prize of victory.
Ianis Hagi on Rangers future
”I want to win,” Hagi said when asked if he could see himself playing for Rangers next year. “That’s my goal in life in everything I do.
”I never take anything for granted and I’m not doing half-hearted anything.
“I think I’ve showed that in the my years that I’ve been here so I just want to win. This club wants to win so I think it goes without saying.”
Rangers star now ‘really strong mentally’
It’s been a long road back from Ianis Hagi, who has had to contend with the frustration of that long-term injury and the insecurity of his future at Rangers.
For the last few months, the Romanian playmaker has had to remain humble and focused on building his fitness and biding his time at Ibrox.
It’s a process which Hagi admits got him angry at times but one which the ex-Genk star insists he is stronger for.
It comes almost five years on from when Hagi first joined the famous Glasgow Rangers, the talented youngster first joining the Gers on loan from Belgium in January 2020.
”I think I’m in a point where I’m really strong mentally,” said Hagi. “I really understand football, on the pitch, off the pitch.
”But I think the most important thing over the last couple of seasons is understanding me, understanding myself as a person, as a player.
”What I need to succeed, what I need to play at my best.
”A mixture of that and I feel right now like any challenge that comes my way I can deal with it.”
