Rabbi Matondo to face ‘Awkward’ Rangers return this summer after what he did
Rabbi Matondo knows what he must do on loan at Hannover to avoid an “awkward” return to Rangers at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old completed a long-awaited Ibrox exit on 30 January, joining the Bundesliga 2 outfit on loan until the end of the season, and could make a permanent move with a £1million purchase clause in the deal [BILD].
However, John McGarry and Paul Forsyth assessed the transfer in the Daily Mail’s Rangers Confidential (5 February) feature and believe the Gers forward may have burned his bridges in Glasgow after a “cryptic” Instagram post following the move.
Writing: “On an Instagram post later, he spoke about it being a great moment for his family, before adding: ‘It’s been a tough season so far not gonna lie with all types of obstacles thrown my way but I guess that’s life at times.’
“Obstacles? Matondo had his injury troubles at Ibrox, that’s for sure, but his remark was cryptic enough to leave many wondering just what he meant.
“Certainly, the player who cost Rangers around £3million in 2022 never justified the outlay and has been left in little doubt that he has no future under Philippe Clement.
“Hannover have an option to buy Matondo at the end of the season, with £1m thought to be the required fee, but they will only do that if they win promotion from Bundesliga 2.
“Currently sixth in the table, five points behind Koln, they have ground to make up. If Matondo doesn’t want an awkward return to Ibrox in the summer, when there will be a year of his contract still to run, he knows what he needs to do.”
Rabbi Matondo has no way back at Rangers
McGarry and Forsyth have hit the nail on the head.
Indeed, he never quite reached the heights expected following his £3m arrival from Schalke in 2022 as injuries plagued his Rangers career.
Nevertheless, the Welshman was given ample opportunity to impress at Ibrox and ultimately unimpressed across his 67 appearances in all competitions.
He did show glimpses of quality, particularly his sensational 93rd-minute equaliser in the 3-3 draw against Celtic last term, but high-standard performances were very few and far between for the forward.
Although he hardly stole the headlines during his last spell in Germany, a return to familiar surroundings could be exactly what Matondo needs to rediscover his form – he has already hit the ground running with a debut goal in the 2-2 draw against Hamburg on Sunday (2 February).
His former boss, Domenico Tedesco, expects Matondo to be an instant success in the Bundesliga 2 [BILD]. With his ties at Rangers evidently severed, the sentiment will be shared at Ibrox in the hope that Hannover will activate the purchase option.
In other Rangers news, Kris Boyd makes a “huge” Philippe Clement claim at the Gers.
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