Ridvan Yilmaz breaks silence as Rangers exit talk emerges
Ridvan Yilmaz has sent a message after previously being linked with a summer move away from Rangers.
The Turkish full-back was handed a start against Celtic and helped Michael Beale’s side to a 3-0 win over their fierce rivals at Ibrox.
According to journalist Serdar Saridag (8 May) Besiktas have “seriously discussed” a return for the young left-back, but Yilmaz is intent on staying in Glasgow.
The 21-year-old has since taken to Twitter and hinted about where his future lies ahead of the 2023/24 season.
“My first Old Firm victory, but not the last one,” he wrote (13 May).
“Great team performance and spirit at the perfect Ibrox.”
Good experience
The runout against Celtic was an excellent learning curve for the 21-year-old. It was by no means his best performance but will develop as a result. Furthermore, with Borna Barisic ageing, there’s a chance for Yilmaz to grab the left-back jersey.
He’s certainly got something about him. He has a turn of pace and if he can improve his delivery, Michale Beale could well be inclined to include him more often. Yilmaz was signed by Giovanni van Bronckhorst, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds.
Another left back is probably low on Beale’s agenda, with Dujon Sterling nearing a move to Ibrox to compete with James Tavernier. It promises to be a huge summer for the Light Blues boss with a number of signings already in the pipeline. It’s crucial the Rangers boss doesn’t forget about some of the underutilised talents that he has at his disposal. Yilmaz could still have an important role to play.
In other Rangers news, Beale now has a free run at one of his favourites after a confirmed transfer development on Thursday.