Rangers players back Nicolas Raskin axe amid bombshell Ibrox development
Nicolas Raskin and Russell Martin have not seen eye to eye at Rangers since the former was appointed as the manager.
Gers have struggled on the pitch despite making a number of signings this summer and look in worse shape than they did before the transfer window started.
Ahead of the 1 September deadline, Raskin has been linked with a Rangers exit as Premier League clubs are exploring the possibility of signing him.
Raskin fuelled speculation of leaving Ibrox as he was spotted heading to the airport on Friday, but he was understood to be picking up his family.
Russell Martin backed by senior players in decision to axe Nicolas Raskin
Rangers take on Celtic in the Old Firm derby on Sunday at Ibrox and there certainly is a lot riding on the game.
Not only is it a high-stakes clash between two arch rivals, but Martin is also feeling the heat despite it only being a few months into the job.
He is yet to mastermind a victory in the league and faces the toughest domestic challenge thus far.
- Raskin was one of the Rangers’ best players last season
- The midfielder joined Gers from Standard Liege in 2023
- Raskin is now a Belgium international, winning four caps so far
The Scottish Sun issued a “bombshell” update on 29 August, stating Raskin has been axed from the Celtic clash by Martin.
This is a decision that has been backed by the senior players and the staff as it’s been made due to the Belgian’s conduct behind the scenes.
Rangers risk losing Nicolas Raskin before the deadline
Martin’s decision to drop Raskin for the pivotal Old Firm clash against Celtic could prove the final straw in the Belgian midfielder’s Ibrox tenure, potentially accelerating his exit before the transfer deadline on 1 September.
Amid a dismal start to the season, Raskin’s absence from first-team preparations stems from his father’s public social media rant against Martin post-Brugge, compounded by ongoing transfer speculation linking him to Premier League clubs.
Once a linchpin under predecessors like Philippe Clement, Raskin’s form has waned under Martin’s possession-based system, fueling frustration.
With scant time to negotiate and integrate a suitable replacement for the 24-year-old, his departure would exacerbate midfield instability, erode squad morale and signal deeper discord, as Raskin angles for a move to revive his career elsewhere.
Fans, already incensed by the regime’s chaos, fear this snub could irreparably fracture the dressing room, hastening his Ibrox farewell.
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