Rangers ‘marquee signing’ Jose Cifuentes sent home early from Ecuador duty by manager after suspension
Jose Cifuentes has been sent back to Rangers early by his manager after getting suspended on international duty, according to The Herald.
The paper reported on 18 November that the Ecuador midfielder was on his way back to Glasgow already after being released by Felix Sanchez he could return immediately, thanks to being unavailable for Tuesday’s game against Chile (21 November).
Cifuentes, a “marquee signing” for Michael Beale in the summer, was booked in the goalless draw with Venezuela on Thursday (16 November) to rule him out of the next game.
Cifuentes cost £1.2million to LAFC after a protracted pursuit by Beale, but has “struggled to adapt so far to Scottish football” across 15 appearances in all competitions.
Unhappy camper
Fortune clearly isn’t favouring the 24-year-old of late, and amid a difficult start to life at Rangers that appears to have spread to international duty as well.
Cifuentes was expected to be a regular in the Light Blues midfield after months of the former manager attempting to secure a deal during the MLS season.
Initially he showed flashes of the ability he was chased so persistently for but amid a miserable start to the season which saw various of the new arrivals fail to adapt quickly and Beale subsequently sacked the midfielder has faded into the background.
Being injured for Philippe Clement’s first game in charge vs Hibs was unfortunate timing, and despite injury to Nico Raskin since then Cifuentes has only been given late appearances off the bench by the new manager.
John Lundstram appears to have found form again amid his obvious delight at the Belgian’s arrival, while Ryan Jack has also been preferred in recent weeks.
Once Raskin returns it could mean Cifuentes is at best fourth choice on central midfield, and while he has plenty of time to establish himself at Ibrox that was not the plan for his first months at the club.
In other Rangers news, a “certainty” claim has been made over a possible January signing, with the pundit then accused of having a chip on his shoulder as a result.