'Advantage' - Agent claims Rangers fans side with Hagi vs Clement after Celtic 'Settle' title

Rangers fans are unhappy with Philippe Clement over his decision to freeze Ianis Hagi out of the first team entirely, says the attacker’s agent.

Giovanni Becali told Fanatik in Romania on 6 September that after the 3-0 Old Firm derby defeat at Parkhead the Light Blues were now “destined” to finish behind Celtic in the title race.

Hagi is stuck in the B Team after rejecting a move to Rapid Bucharest [Sky Sports, 26 August] and Becali claims the Scottish Premiership being “settled” already is a boost to the 25-year-old’s chances of getting back in with the help of pressure on the manager from the fans.

He said, translated to English: “Something is happening to Ianis that the supporters also dispute. If we look at the results that Glasgow has had so far, Rangers drew a game and Celtic went to two points, they beat them 3-0 in the direct match as well and they are on 5 points, so the situation of the first place is kind of settled in Scotland. It’s not like England where you can relive how Manchester City came back from five-six points behind Arsenal to finish first.

“In Scotland there are two big, wide teams playing for the top two spots. And it looks like Glasgow [Rangers] are destined to stay in second place. This is an advantage for Ianis to be able, especially with the help of the supporters who are unhappy with this Clement, to be able to return to play and even start at Glasgow Rangers.”

Rabbi Matondo injury could open Rangers door

Most Light Blues supporters would probably have chosen to give Hagi a chance in a first team that is hardly overflowing with attacking riches by now.

So the fact that Clement has remained resolute throughout a grim preseason and a stuttering start to the campaign proper, as he struggled to bring in new signings and Todd Cantwell was also cut off from the squad, makes it unlikely he will cave now.

As the transfer window closed with the controversial former Norwich man joining Blackburn Rovers and Scott Wright making a permanent move to Birmingham City the manager reiterated he had no plans to bring Hagi back in [Daily Mail, 31 AUgust].

His insistence that the Romanian international is not his view of the right type of number 10 for this side was backed up by his move to sign Nedim Bajrami on Deadline Day, even if the widely speculated contract clause [Daily Record, 13 August] that is thought to be triggered by a 100th Gers appearance is surely playing a part as well.

But there is, as ever, a new twist at Ibrox with the news that Rabbi Matondo is set for months out injured with a serious hamstring tear [Football Scotland, 5 September], only days after transfer interest was resisted [Football Scotland, 30 August].

Danilo is also out for a few weeks after a set back to his knee problem [The Rangers Review, 5 September] so there are two spots open in attacking areas for the time being, which has surely given another exit-linked attacker the greatest opportunity to return to the fold he will likely get at the club.

If the club could afford to play Hagi without being on the hook for a higher wage they may have done so by now but barring some in-house negotiations the door appears to have been slammed shut on his Ibrox career.

In other Rangers news, the Light Blues are suddenly ready to let another big-name exit after the transfer window closed.

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