Rangers-bound Jefte apologises for January transfer window ‘incident’
Jefte has apologised to APOEL via social media following his failed move to Rangers during the January transfer window.
The full-back posted on his Instagram stories on 2 February his explanation for supposedly going AWOL as the Light Blues attempted to sign him from parent club Fluminense ahead of Deadline Day.
A deal worth £400,000 was believed to be agreed between Rangers and the Brazilian side but, having been blocked from completing a permanent deal themselves, the Cypriots supposedly wanted similar money to cut his loan short.
That ultimately rendered an Ibrox switch impossible, but according to Fabrizio Romano he is still expected to arrive in Glasgow at the end of the season after a verbal agreement was struck.
The 20-year-old wrote, via the Scottish Sun: “To all APOEL fans, my teammates, the coach, the president and the entire club staff, I would like to communicate my apology for being absent. At the time of the incident, I was not feeling in a position to help the club and I chose to leave.
“The institution deserves all my commitment, dedication and focus, as it has been in the last few months, and as it will be from now on.
“We remain stronger than ever and are now 100% focused on the main objective of winning the championship.”
Rangers forced to wait for in-demand defender
It certainly appears that Jefte was ready to join Rangers straight away but it has ultimately proven to be impossible, so he was probably left with little choice but to mend fences at APOEL for the coming months.
Left-back emerged as a key area of focus throughout the January transfer window, but neither of the exit-linked incumbents, Ridvan Yilmaz and Borna Barisic, have gone so it looks to be as-you-were for the rest of the season.
The Croatian’s contract is up in the summer so if Rangers have an agreement in place to sign the young Brazilian it could be a one-in one-out arrangement at the end of the current campaign.
Whether Galatasaray continue to push to take the Turk away from Ibrox is likely the main variable but either way the position is still not settled after the passing of another window.
Philippe Clement was ultimately able to add three new arrivals, but is thought to have hoped for five, and the wrangling over Jefte not working out will undoubtedly have been a frustration.
The Belgian will now have to hope there is no injury or loss of form between now and the summer that might put paid to the future move.
In other Rangers news, a new Gers man stunned one BBC Sport pundit live with something “ridiculous” he did at Ibrox.
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