It is no secret that Rangers want Ianis Hagi’s loan move made permanent from Genk triggering a £4.3m clause (as reported by The Daily Mail). His father, the legendary Gheorghe Hagi, has also backed the move despite interest from the other European hotshots, and the 21-year-old now has the blessings of another iconic Romanian as revealed by the Daily Record.
Iosif Rotariu had a terrifying experience at Ibrox during his playing days when a horrendous tackle from the Gers’ midfield maestro Graeme Souness almost cost his life in the 1988 European Cup quarter-final. Soon he went under the knife to recover from the injury and eventually missed the semifinal clash during his first tenure at Steaua Bucharest.
Despite the nightmare, Rotariu has urged Ianis Hagi to join the Bears and flourish his game further under the tutelage of Steven Gerrard. He observed the winger’s emergence since his boyhood days and has rated him as the league’s best two-footed player following an exceptional run of form prior to the suspension of the game.
“I see a bright future for Ianis at Rangers. I have followed his career closely and he is doing very well in Scotland. I hope he signs for them. He has an excellent relationship with Steven Gerrard. He’s a manager who seems to know how to get the best out of his players and he’s done that with Ianis.”
Revealed the former midfield sensation who represented his nation at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Why Provan’s Comments Are Alarming For Rangers
Meanwhile, the financial impact in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic has cast doubts over Hagi’s potential permanent transfer. The same has been highlighted by the Light Blues’ sporting director Ross Wilson in a recent interview (with the Daily Record), and the brutal assessment of former Celtic winger David Provan must be disturbing for the Ibrox faithful.
“Had to laugh at fantasy speculation Rangers are ready to pay £4.3million to make Ianis Hagi’s loan from Genk permanent.
“If Gers or any other Scottish club has a spare £4m, they’ll be using it to keep the lights on.”
The 63-year-old mocked the monetary problems and budget constraints of Scottish football (as quoted by the Scottish Sun) which is indeed a reality for quite some time.
Yet the club are tipped to raise fund by selling Alfredo Morelos amid growing interest from Premier League. The striker’s exit would be another massive concern for Gerrard who must find an able alternative to spearhead the attack. Having said that, the signing of Ianis Hagi should be viewed as a welcome boost during this strenuous time.
