Overseas journalist Aaron Barton shares ‘huge’ admission on new Rangers signing Fabio Silva
Rangers are getting an “exciting player” as Fabio Silva is looking to get his career back on track following his loan move from Wolves, according to Aaron Barton.
Speaking on the Scottish Football Podcast on Wednesday (4 January), the editor of Portuguese football site Proxima Jornada said the 21-year-old showed a “huge improvement” in his game during his time on loan at Dutch club PSV last season.
He believes the Portuguese forward wants to get back to playing regularly with a fan base that will “take to him”, adding that the Gers could provide him with the “fresh start” that he needs.
“He’s a player who plays when he’s got confidence, which I think is fair to say over the last couple of years he hasn’t had much of, they’re getting an exciting player, they’re getting a player who is looking to get his career back on track,” said Barton.
“Last season was a big improvement, a huge improvement. [His time at PSV] was a really important period in his career. He was playing on the left, almost as a left winger. I think if you look at his touch map when he was in Holland, he was having to do a lot more running down the flanks, cutting inside with the ball, and bringing other players into play, as well as looking to get himself into the box to score goals as well.
“So, in terms of his development that will have been something that is another sort of string to add to his bow. But he wants to get back playing. He wants to get back playing regularly. He wants to get back playing with a fan base that will really take to him.
“I just think it’s time for a fresh start and if he kicks on at Rangers then maybe that can be it for him.”
Opportunity
This is a real opportunity for Silva to prove that he can still be a quality player after his time at Wolves hasn’t panned out how he would have hoped.
Since signing for the Premier League side for £35million from Porto in 2020, he’s scored just five goals and laid on six assists in 72 appearances.
But his time on loan at Anderlecht and PSV last season, where he found the back of the net 16 times, should provide him with confidence heading into his time at Ibrox.
The Portuguese will get chances to impress under Philippe Clement in the second half of this season, with Cyriel Dessers the only other forward who’s fit and ready to play in the squad.
It’s now down to Silva to show what he can do as he looks to either earn a permanent deal in Glasgow or show his parent club why he’s worth another shot south of the border.
In other Rangers news, Alan Brazil has reacted to an Old Firm controversy live on air.