The Rangers faithful always knew – deep down – that keeping Vaclav Cerny at Ibrox beyond the expiry of his loan deal with VFL Wolfsburg felt a little unlikely.
Yet, as the Czech Republic international’s agent speaks out for the first time to play down the chances of out his client staying at Ibrox, that did not make the pain of hearing such comments any less difficult to stomach.
Vaclav Cerny was outstanding as Rangers beat Fenerbahce 3-1 in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday night. He took his tally to 17 goals for the season, making this the most prolific campaign of his entire career.
Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho praised Cerny at full-time too. The winger’s movement in a new-look central attacking role – Rangers’ interim boss Barry Ferguson unveiled a re-jigged 3-4-2-1 system in Istanbul – caused havoc, especially on the counter-attack.
And, unsurprisingly, such form has not gone unnoticed.
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Rangers move played down as agent spells out Vaclav Cerny’s future
Vaclav Cerny felt he would have ‘other options’ if he was to rediscover the spark which made him one of the standout talents of Dutch football with FC Twente. And it seems he was right.
David Nehoda, Cerny’s representative, confirms that clubs from France’s Ligue 1 and Italy’s Serie A have made their interest known already.
“I can’t say what will happen next, but I don’t think it’s very realistic for him to stay at Rangers,” Nehoda explains. “His contract at Wolfsburg ends in the summer of 2027. So, I would assume that the club will want to recall him, or there will be interested parties who would like to buy him.
“There is already interest from France and Italy. I know Vaclav’s ambitions; To return to one of the top five leagues in Europe.”
Yet, Nehoda did not entirely rule out the prospect of a longer spell in Glasgow. Cerny is loving life at a club who have given him the patience and the faith he needed to rediscover his best form after a difficult stint in the Bundesliga.
Furthermore, should the San Francisco 49ers complete their rumoured takeover, that could give Rangers the financial muscle required to meet Wolfsburg’s reported £7 million asking price.
Philippe Clement confirmed in December that Rangers could not afford Vaclav Cerny on a permanent basis. That could change, however, with American investment at Ibrox.
Cerny loves life at Ibrox with Rangers ‘tailor-made for him’
“Everything has worked out beautifully for him since his loan spell,” Nehoda adds. “In the Europa League, Vaclav has shown what an exceptional player he is. At Rangers, his coaches and teammates trust him, the fans applaud him and he has a great family background.
“He is calm and everything is reflected in his well-being and performances. The style in which Rangers play is tailor-made for him. That’s exactly how he likes it.”
Speaking at the beginning of 2025, Cerny confirmed that there was no option or obligation-to-buy clause in the contract Rangers agreed upon with Wolfsburg last summer.
“I’m enjoying it here extremely. I don’t want to think about what will happen,” said the former Ajax wonderkid. “There will be time for that towards the end of the season, when things start to settle down.
“After this season, I have a two-year contract at Wolfsburg. If the tug-of-war starts then, it’s no longer in my hands. It’s in my hands if I score 20 goals [and] assist another 20. Then, other options will open up.
“I know how football works and that it can then turn into a positive light if the season goes as expected. I know what the situation is at Rangers, what the possibilities are. But it’s not up to me to comment on that so soon. I just have to give my best on the pitch and help the club to achieve success.”
