Thomas Buffel delivers verdict on Rangers summer signing Rabbi Matondo
Former Belgian player Thomas Buffel has suggested that Rabbi Matondo has got the ability to shine at Rangers, but it would be a “shame” if he fails to unlock his potential.
Matondo joined the club in the summer transfer window, and he has made five starts so far under Giovanni van Bronkhorst.
Buffel says that it would be a “big regret” for the player if he were to leave the club to move elsewhere.
“He is still a young player but he showed at Cercle that could come out of a difficult period and start to shine so it’s up to him to get back to the level he can reach because he has the ability,” said Buffel to Scottish Daily Express.
“It would be a shame not to because when you are at a fantastic club like Rangers you want to be on the pitch at Ibrox and not on the side.
“It would be a big regret for him if he doesn’t perform and he has to go to another team. So I expect him to work hard to do that.”
Interesting case
Two and a half months have passed, and it can be said that Matondo hasn’t been a big success at the club.
He has made seven appearances in the Scottish Premiership, where he is yet to score. He has three assists to his name.
The talented winger, who can both play on the right and left wing, has shown only flashes of brilliance, but Van Bronckhorst will demand more from him.
Buffel said that Matondo is someone who needs to be constantly worked with. While the Dutchman will definitely try to inject confidence in him, at a big club like Rangers, it’s not always possible to work with players on a personal basis.
Put simply, Matondo needs to adapt quickly. He is expected to feature against Dundee in the Scottish Premier Sports Cup, and a strong performance from him is needed.
With Ryan Kent struggling this season, Matondo can really cement his place in the side with a series of strong performances.
In other Rangers news, an official partner of the Gers has called on the board to sack van Bronckhorst and Ross Wilson.