Credit: Imago

James Barker

Fri 24 April 2026 7:10, UK

Gilberto Batista has been linked with a move to Rangers ahead of the summer transfer window, but his stats in Portugal suggest he’s still extremely raw.

Rangers’ centre-back department could look pretty different by the time the upcoming summer transfer window slams shut.

Nasser Djiga is scheduled to return to parent club Wolves, and it remains to be seen whether Gers can get a permanent deal struck for the 23-year-old.

Meanwhile, Derek Cornelius will also head back to his parent club Marseille, whilst there is expected to be significant interest in Emmanuel Fernandez too.

So, despite the fact the focus remains very much on this season, Ibrox chiefs will also be getting their summer transfer shortlist drawn up in these final weeks of the campaign.

How has Rangers target Gilberto Batista fared this season?

Rangers are said to be monitoring Batista’s situation at Moreirense, where it’s reported that the Portuguese side are trying to ink him to a new long-term contract with them.

However, the 22-year-old has not yet done so, and it’s been claimed by Portuguese outlet O Jogo that he could be available for around €3million euros (£2.6m) this summer if no contract is signed.

The Guinea-Bissau international moved to Portugal in 2016 to sign for Sporting CP, having previously played academy football in his homeland with Academia de Platine.

However, come the summer of 2023 and after failing to make a first-team appearance for Sporting, he moved to fellow Portuguese side Moreirense.

Since then, he’s made 35 competitive first-team appearances for them, with 25 of those coming in all competitions this season.

So, whilst he’s really beginning to establish himself at senior level in 2025-26, his underlying numbers from this term show just how raw of a talent he still is, with some impressive and not-so impressive figures alike.

As per Sofascore, Batista has a passing accuracy of 88 per cent in Liga Portugal this season as well as a 94 per cent accuracy inside his own half, with 54.5 touches per game too

He’s also recovered 2.8 balls per game, made 4.8 clearances per game, won 72 per cent of his ground duels and 62 per cent of his total duels, whilst also enjoying a dribble success rate of 80 per cent.

However, the youngster has also won just 0.7 tackles per game in 2025-26, whilst also making three errors leading to shots and two to goals, with an underwhelming 50 per cent aerial duel win rate respectively.

Batista would be a project signing for Rangers

When you watch Batista in action, his size, athleticism and confidence on the ball instantly catch the eye as traits that any coach would want to work with.

Sporting are one of the biggest clubs in Portugal, and have a fantastic academy system too, so for them to sign him shows just how much potential and ability they felt he had at one point too.

However, if Rangers fans were perhaps expecting him to be a player that could come in and instantly be ready for a big starting role, well that might not be the case.

Batista is still extremely inexperienced in senior football, whereas the likes of Djiga, Cornelius and Fernandez certainly aren’t, and so he might very well be a player that needs a year or two to adjust to Scottish football.

But, Rangers may decide to bet on his potential and natural abilities, and for a fee of perhaps £2.6m, that could be a very shrewd move, but it could be one that requires time and patience if they are to hit the jackpot.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.