Sky Sports pundit questions ‘crazy’ behind-the-scenes Danilo issues amid reduced Rangers game time
Kenny Miller has questioned what is happening to Rangers forward Danilo after his lack of starts under Michael Beale.
As reported by FootballScotland (7 September), Miller speculated about a potential behind-the-scenes issue with the new signing, wondering if he’d settled to life in Glasgow yet.
Danilo has only featured from the bench in Rangers’ last five fixtures, making his last start in the Gers’ 1-1 draw to Servette in the Champions League qualifiers.
As quoted by FootballScotland, Sky Sports pundit Miller said: “I’m probably asking the same question as every fan is – what’s going on? £6million has been spent on a striker that’s not starting. There’s been changes to the front-line but he’s not one of them.
“So that’s when you start thinking, is there something else going on? Is he struggling to settle in Glasgow? You just don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. But there’s got to be something.
“You don’t spend that money on a player who played for the team that won the Dutch league last year and now he can’t get a game in a front-line that’s not firing.
“The one thing I believe would be crazy for the Rangers manager, any manager, if something’s not working – which I don’t think it is just now – is to just continually keep sticking with it.”
“What’s going on?”
Having spent £6million on what looked to be Rangers’ marquee signing of the summer, Danilo has not quite met expectations yet.
Naturally, it can take some time for new players to bed into a squad and get caught up to speed before receiving regular game time and starts.
However, many of the Gers’ other new boys, including Cyriel Dessers, Jose Cifuentes and Sam Lammers have all earned more starts than the Brazilian in recent weeks, which perhaps hints and something happening behind closed doors.
Miller suggests that the former Feyenoord star could be having problems adjusting to life in Scotland, which may well be true. Danilo himself has been impactful when he’s played, netting twice this season, double Lammers’ current return.
So, with none of the frontline proving particularly prolific this season so far, Miller’s observation does seem to have some truth in it. With a high price tag, it seems odd that Michael Beale has not put more pressure on the 24-year-old’s shoulders in hopes of changing Rangers’ fortunes.
No one except Danilo will truly know how he feels, but the Ibrox faithful will be eagerly awaiting a burst of form from the new boy.
In other Rangers news, a Gers favourite has sent a message over social media after the Old Firm defeat.