Despite rumours of a potential summer exit, Rangers star Ianis Hagi has cooled down speculations while speaking to Digi Sport (cited by The Daily Record) following Romania’s stalemate with Kosovo in the UEFA EURO Qualifiers. He did not have enough time for a prolonged conversation with Michael Beale, but the contract extension before Christmas has been a significant boost given his year-long absence with a severe knee injury.
“The discussions that I and my manager had, as soon as the season ended, were positive. When you sign an extension with Rangers after a year out with injury, you’ve done something right. I am happy that I managed to extend my contract with such a huge club in Europe.”
Told the 24-year-old midfield attacker as he aims for silverware after a difficult 2022-23 season.
Ianis, also the son of Romanian great Gheorghe Hagi, progressed through the ranks of his father’s academy before being roped in by Viitorul Constanța for their senior side. Serie A outfit Fiorentina splashed €2m for his services, however, he hardly featured for their first team and returned to Viitorul in January 2018.
After a promising one-and-a-half years spell back in his homeland, Genk snapped him up and handed him a ‘number 10’ status. But his stay in Belgium did not last long with Rangers tying him down on permanent terms after a successful six-month loan.
Hagi was integral to Rangers’ Premiership triumph under Steven Gerrard who not only played him as an attacking midfielder but also deployed him down the right-hand flank. With 8 goals and 15 assists in 45 appearances, the young Tricolorii international proved his worth across competitions.
Why Hagi Has A Future At Rangers
Although he has slipped down the pecking order due to fitness reasons, Michael Beale is expected to utilize him more frequently in the coming days after a much-needed pre-season. Hagi mostly stayed sidelined during former gaffer Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s tenure, but the appointment of Beale as the Dutchman’s successor must be a welcome uplift for the Romanian.
Beale acted as the first team coach at Rangers when Gerrard was in charge and Hagi, therefore, was looked after and developed by the Englishman before parting ways for the Aston Villa job. The Light Blues have allowed Scott Arfield to depart as a free agent, whereas a deal is yet to be struck with Bayern Munich for the retention of Malik Tillman after a successful loan. Teenage ace Alex Lowry, as well as Tom Lawrence and Kemar Roofe, had their injury misfortunes throughout the previous term. It remains to be seen though whether Hagi regains his lost touch and reclaims a regular role in and around the attacking third.
