Joe Ellis

Thu 17 February 2022 6:40, UK

Rangers have three competitions to focus on before looking towards pre-season friendlies for next season but they could have a dream tie with an MLS club.

Former Gers midfielder and United States international Claudio Reyna is now the sporting director at Austin FC and spent three years at Ibrox, alongside Giovanni van Bronckhorst, between 1999 and 2001.

His son, Giovanni Reyna (named after the Rangers boss), is set to face the Light Blues in the Europa League for Borussia Dortmund on Thursday and that might not be the last of the family connections.

Speaking to BBC Sport Scotland, Reyna admitted that he would love to welcome his close friend from his time in Scotland to Texas for a friendly, even though it would be in the middle of the MLS season.

“Hopefully one day Rangers can come here and play in a friendly and see how the sport is growing,” he said.

A massive step

The only teams that usually head Stateside for friendlies are the absolute elite of European football such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester United to name just three.

Scottish clubs have rarely, if ever, been asked to feature on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean but Rangers going to Texas would be a big moment for Scottish football in general.

It might come via already outstanding friendships with Reyna and van Bronckhorst still great friends after their time together in Glasgow but it would still turn heads.

The Gers could also see their worldwide appeal increase and they can begin to expand their fanbase in the States with Reyna’s help.

A Texan summer might be much hotter than that of one in Scotland and it would probably require a lot of players, as well as money, but the long term benefits far outweigh downsides.

Nothing is agreed yet and it might not be next year but hopefully, soon enough, the Gers will head Stateside to take on the best of the MLS.

In other Rangers news, a former Light Blues player thinks they have no chance against Dortmund in the Europa League playoff tie.