Rangers: Club director shares ‘best possible’ update after Jose Cifuentes loan
Pedro Martins, director of football at Brazilian outfit Cruzeiro, has shared the club’s transfer plans after Rangers midfielder Jose Cifuentes joined on loan in January.
It was said that the Brazilian club would assess the players in terms of their talent before deciding on what the “best possible” outcome would be for the club, although their financial situation remains difficult.
Cifuentes left Ibrox on loan in search of regular playing time after a difficult half-season in Glasgow after Michael Beale was sacked and Philippe Clement took over.
Speaking to Noataque [20 March], Martins shared: “Our objective in these types of loans is to be able to evaluate the athlete’s performance here, and it is also a tool for those who do not have the capacity for immediate investment.
“Given the club’s budget limitations, we prefer to bring the player on loan, see if he will adapt to our routine and way of acting, and when making this acquisition, we can sit down with the club and player and build in the best possible way.”
Could Jose Cifuentes return to Rangers after his loan spell?
It has now become clear that Cruzeiro intends to figure out a way to keep Cifutentes, as well as other loanees, in Brazil – which may suit him better in terms of his style of play and experience.
Playing at Ibrox and playing for Rangers brings a certain level of pressure. Every game, more or less, is a must-win in every competition, and that can weigh heavily on the players – particularly when, like Cifuentes, they are still fairly inexperienced.
That pressure was described as “immense” by journalist Richard Gordon ahead of the Viaplay Cup final, and at the end of the day, it’s something you either can deal with or you can’t.
Many of Michael Beale’s summer signings had struggled to adapt to the Ibrox atmosphere and demanding nature, and while some have started to turn their form around, it may take longer for others.
A loan to Cruzeiro will allow Cifuentes to step away from that pressure and get back to playing his football, and once he grows his game he may return to Ibrox, particularly given the apparent financial limitation at his loan club.
In other Rangers news, the club narrowly avoided an Old Firm headache.
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