Thomas Galdames is a name few Rangers fans can attest to have known before those links to Ibrox first broke.
The Gers faithful were licking their wounds amid news that the club had pulled the plug on a prospective deal for Panamanian centre-back Jose Cordoba.
A £2m rising to £3.2m deal was reportedly struck with Bulgarian side Levski Sofia but amid late interest from Norwich City, Rangers pulled the plug.
Almost instantly Rangers fans were then whipped up into a transfer frenzy over Chilean defender Thomas Galdames.
Like Cordoba, Galdames is a left-sided defender but, unlike Cordoba, has spent the most of his career at left-back.
And it is on that side of the pitch where the 25-year-old played what looks to be his final game for Argentine Primera División club Godoy Cruz this week.
Galdames double-assist in POTM performance
Starting the Copa Argentina clash for Godoy Cruz away to El Povernir, it was a send-off to remember for Thomas Galdames.
The left-back put in a monumental shift to cap off an impressive 18 months with the Argentine club where Galdames has gone from an uncapped defender to the provisional Chile Copa America squad.
Now, Europe reportedly beckons and if you’re going to sign off for a club, playing a key role in a 4-0 away win in the national cup is quite a way to do it.
Thomas Galdames provided two assists for his teammates and played a starring role as Godoy Cruz romped to a victory.
The assist for the third goal – a header from Roberto Fernandez – encapsulates why Rangers look interested in completing a deal for the defender.
The 6ft defender gets on the ball out left, takes a composed touch into the opposition half, before delivering a perfect cross onto the head of his teammate.
The second assist comes in the shape of Godoy Cruz’s fourth goal and again shows the athleticism and ability that Galdames possesses.
From an offensive El Porvenir free-kick, Galdames is first to the second ball.
Finding acres of space in the middle of the pitch for Godoy, Galdames strides into the middle of park and plays through Nahuel Ulariaga with a stunning outside of the boot through ball.
The striker then finishes with aplomb to round off what was a Man of the Match performance from Thomas Galdames on what looks like his final game for Godoy Cruz.
| Thomas Galdames (Godoy Cruz) | Match stats v El Povernir (29/05/24) |
| Minutes | 90 |
| FotMob rating | 8.8 (Man of the Match) |
| Assists (chances created) | 2 (2) |
| Passing accuracy (%) | 21/29 (72%) |
| Shots (on target) | 1 (1) |
| Ground duels won (%) | 5/7 (71%) |
| Aerial duels won (%) | 2/2 (100%) |
| Tackles won (%) | 3/3 (100%) |
| Passes into final third | 5 |
Rangers-linked defender to ‘leave with love’
We know that Thomas Galdames is set to move on from Godoy Cruz because we’ve been told so.
The club’s manager, Daniel Oldra, confirmed after the match both the Chilean defender and Argentine striker Tomas Badaloni look set to be on the move this summer.
Speaking after the game, as quoted by local journalist Juan Esteban Suraci, Oldra insists that both Galdames and Badaloni will leave Argentina ‘with love’.
That’s even if Godoy Cruz legend views Thomas Galdames like a son.
Translated, the message reads: “(Thomas) Galdames has made me angrier than my son, how can he not have me as a father? He has had a great year, I know I’m going to lose it.
“But football has those things. Let them leave with a love from Godoy Cruz means that (means) they have been happy here.”
If you want an idea of how popular Galdames has been over his 18 months with Godoy Cruz, a clip of a young fan handing him a picture exemplifies the Chilean defender’s progress since crossing the border over to Argentina.
Thomas Galdames certainly looks a player and Rangers are reportedly facing competition from Belgium for the signature of the Copa America hopeful.
As we’ve seen with Jose Cordoba, nothing is done until it’s done and Rangers fans won’t be getting carried away until things develop this week.
The scenes coming out of Argentina are promising however and with six months to run on his contract, Rangers will hope to cut a solid deal to bring the Chilean to Glasgow.
