Rangers are preparing an army, and fast. Pedro Caixinha has completed his fourth signing of the summer window in Portuguese winger Daniel Candeias as the 46-year-old’s team building process continues. Following the former Benfica winger’s quiet loan spell with Turkish side Aytemiz Alanyaspor last season, newly crowned Liga NOS Champions have decided they don’t need his services.
Following the mid-term sack of Mark Warburton, which really threw the Teddy Bears off gear, the club did the right thing in bringing in the Portuguese boss. Like Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers, Caixinha’s reputation precedes him and the quick signings are an indication of it.
Rangers have already completed the signing of Dalcio, Bruno Alves, Ryan Jack and Fabio Cardoso, indicating that the ball was set rolling quite some time back. They have seemingly taken Rafael Benitez’s strategy this summer. The Spaniard had everything planned out much before his competitors, and he picked up his priority targets way before the pre-season.
Caixinha too is going for a blend of youth and experience at his disposal and his signings are a clear indication of that. In Candeias, Rangers have a midfielder, who can excel on the wings as well. Given the number of games a team has to play in the Scottish Premiership, consistency is a more important attribute than complete dominance in all aspects.
And Rangers know they would need a year or two at least, to compete shoulder to shoulder with the Hoops, but they can still win the league. They have faced each other six times last season in all competition, with Celtic winning five of them. With Rangers already having a leader in Alves, it is important for someone to hold the midfield under pressure.
And Candeias can do exactly that for them. An FC Porto academy product, Candeias has spent almost his entire professional career on loan. Following his break into the first team, he was sent to Varzim SC, then Rio Ave FC, Spanish third tier side Recreativo Huelva and FC Paços de Ferreira before FC Porto decided to let him go to Nacional; and a year later Benfica bought him as a free agent.
Things didn’t change at all from there as he went on another loaning spree yet again, although this time it was other countries. He moved to Bundesliga side FC Nuremberg, followed by Granada CF and Ligue 1 side FC Metz before Aytemiz Alanyaspor came calling.
Despite being quite a regular face for Portugal’s under age sides, Candeias is yet to make a national debut. Nonetheless, the 29-year-old has amassed a chunk of experience playing in some of the most competitive leagues across Europe and would come in handy for Rangers.
The Portuguese is an utility player who can definitely serve Caixinha almost anywhere in midfield. However he is most comfortable in the right hand side of midfield so maybe time for some shuffling in the Rangers midfield?
Also obviously let’s not discount that Candeias had the best season of his career under Caixinha when he played for Portuguese side Nacional in the 2011-12 season. With seven goals and five assists that season, the future seemed really bright for Candeias at that time. Hopefully the duo can work the same magic again.
