Rangers put Ridvan Yilmaz on intense before and after training programme
Rangers put summer recruit Ridvan Yilmaz on an intense training programme to help him improve his physical fitness, according to The Athletic.
The Turkish international arrived from Besiktas for £3.4million as the Light Blues’ most expensive buy in the summer but his strength and power was lacking for what Giovanni van Bronckhorst wanted.
As a result, the Dutchman and his coaching team devised a plan to help bulk up the 21-year-old ready for the physical assault of Scottish football.
That work took up a lot of his time and while the four-to-five-week programme has now come to an end, Yilmaz still puts in the extra effort both before and after training on his condition.
The Turk started ahead of Borna Barisic in the latest Champions League game away at Napoli and, although Rangers lost 3-0, he came through the game with nothing but praise.
Future star
As consistent as Barisic has been during his time at Ibrox, van Bronckhorst and Rangers have to start looking towards the future and Yilmaz could be exactly that.
The Turkish international proved at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium that he can handle the biggest games and toughest atmospheres with ease even if they did not manage to win.
Now is the time for a transition towards the much younger player just like what is happening in the centre of defence with Leon King getting a run of games.
With such a good core of young players ready to play some part in the senior team, this might be the season to bed them into the chaos of football ready to take over the world next season.
Alex Lowry is another youngster who should be getting more and more games in the coming months as he returns from injury and it could be the saviour for van Bronckhorst.
In other Rangers news, One of Yilmaz’s fellow defenders has suddenly become one of the most important players for the Light Blues.