Ianis Hagi has done what no Rangers player has managed under Russell Martin
Rangers cleared out their squad in the summer but have been even worse on the pitch, and several former players are thriving elsewhere.
Hamza Igamane has had a superb start at Lille after departing late on in the window, and his replacement Youssef Chermiti has failed to impress so far.
Thelo Aasgaard has also disappointed in Rangers’ midfield, and this comes after Ianis Hagi was let go on a free transfer.
While few Rangers fans would have disagreed with Kevin Thelwell’s decision to let Hagi leave, Russell Martin’s mismanagement has meant that almost the entire squad is struggling, while the Romanian is thriving elsewhere.
Ianis Hagi scores outstanding free kick for Alanyaspor
After being released by Rangers in the summer, Hagi joined Turkish side Alanyaspor, and he has truly hit the ground running.
In just his second start for his new club, Hagi helped Alanyaspor battle for a point as they drew 2-2 with Genclerbirligi, and opened the scoring with a world-class free kick.
- Hagi made 130 appearances for Rangers.
- The 26-year-old scored 20 times and provided 28 assists.
- Injuries hampered his progress at Ibrox.
From a long way out, Hagi powered in a sensational shot on his left foot, which found the top right corner to open the scoring, in his first goal since leaving Ibrox.
This was his first goal since Hagi scored a stunning last-minute equaliser against Aberdeen in April 2025, and he showed Rangers what they were missing.
Rangers attacking players struggling under Russell Martin
With this free kick, Hagi produced a moment of outstanding individual quality, which no Rangers player has managed under Martin.
Rangers have been blunt in attack all season, and it can be argued that Martin’s tactics are stifling the players, and stopping them from expressing themselves.
Aasgaard is yet to score or assist, while Djeidi Gassama has yet to score in the league despite thriving in European games.
While Hagi was far from perfect at Ibrox, it speaks volumes about how far Rangers have fallen under Martin that he would probably walk into the team right now and offer a lot more than the current attacking midfield options.
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