Rangers: Romanian FA official rages at Alaves for ‘waste of time’ Ianis Hagi loan transfer
Romanian FA chief Mihai Stoichita has exploded at Alaves for their “waste of time” loan transfer of Rangers playmaker Ianis Hagi.
The attacking midfielder joined the La Liga club on a season-long loan in the summer transfer window but has struggled for game time, managing just 575 minutes of action over 17 appearances.
And the Romanian FA’s technical director Stoichita has claimed that the Spanish club’s manager has been “unfair” to him ad branded the whole transfer a “waste of time” for all parties involved.
“Why did Alaves take him on loan from Rangers? I just don’t understand why they don’t play him,” he said, as quoted by Glasgow Times (6 March).
“It’s not as if Alaves are brilliant or anything. I keep watching their games and it doesn’t even register that Ianis isn’t playing – I just presume he is not.
“And when I do watch their matches, I look at their players and there is no doubt that Ianis could do as well if not better than them.
“I ask myself why is the manager being unfair to him? Ianis is someone who can get you a goal at any time, he can unlock defences with a pass. They keep losing or drawing with the same group of players. Why sign him in the first place?”
Rangers could have done with Ianis Hagi at Ibrox
When Hagi was allowed to leave Ibrox temporarily in the summer, it was with Michael Beale as the manager, and clearly no real plan made for the season.
Sam Lammers has since left the club in January while new manager Philippe Clement made a massive impact since arriving and brought in Oscar Cortes and Fabio Silva to strengthen the attacking options in the squad.
With the transfer window now closed though the boss has been dealt heavy injury blows with several options unavailable, and that could have provided a player like Hagi with opportunities.
Hagi isn’t a high intensity player, however he has got phenomenal qualities on the ball and has a great eye for creativity which in a team that dominates the ball like Rangers do would fit in perfectly.
Thankfully it was just a loan move and he may get the chance to impress Clement in pre-season, but he has wasted yet another year of his career in Spain now.
In other Rangers news, Sky Sports dropped footage of injury doubt in training at Auchenhowie ahead of Benfica clash.
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