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Bongani Zungu: Rangers permanent move failed over fees
Bongani Zungu spent last season on loan with Rangers, but he returned to Amiens in the summer after the Ibrox giants opted against a permanent deal.
The South African international midfielder, 29, has now told Soccer Laduma that a move did not work out because the fee to acquire his signature was too expensive for the Scottish Premiership giants.
Zungu featured in 21 games across all competitions for Rangers, but he could not break into erstwhile manager Steven Gerrard’s starting XI.
The former Vitoria Guimaraes man told the South African website: “My experience there wasn’t great on the pitch yes, but the team was winning and I had to understand that Steven Gerrard can’t just change the winning formula.
“Rangers paid a loan fee, obviously, which showed the coach was really interested. But to make it permanent became too expensive.”
Wasn’t good enough?
The 30-cap midfielder made headlines in March for all the wrong reasons after the Scottish FA handed him a six-match ban for joining four of his teammates in breaching Coronavirus rules by attending an illegal house party at the height of the pandemic.
However, Zungu insists it was blown out of proportion, and that is not the reason why a permanent move to Ibrox fell through.
Rangers were well-stocked in the middle of the park last season, and he just could not force his way into Gerrard’s plans.
Joe Aribo, Glen Kamara and Steven Davis were the regulars in midfield, and dislodging the trio proved difficult for anyone.
Given their finances, the Bears were not willing to pay for the services of a squad player, and they decided against signing Zungu.
They definitely do not have any cause to regret their action as the South African has struggled to see action since returning to Amiens, and his future at the Ligue 2 outfit looks very bleak.
In other Rangers news, The Athletic has shared if billionaire wants to buy the Bears after major development this month.