Confirmed: Guaranteed cash windfall missing as Rangers ace makes loan exit

Rangers have confirmed Jose Cifuentes’ loan to Aris Thessaloniki with an option to buy rather than an obligation.

The Light Blues announced the Ecuadorian’s switch from one loan in Brazil with Cruzeiro to another with the Greek side on 13 August, with the provision to make the deal permanent different from what had been expected.

Teradeportes reported via X on 12 August as the midfielder arrived in Greece to complete the move that it would come with an obligation to pay $4.5million (£3.5m) at the end of it.

That would have guaranteed the Gers banked a profit on his £1.2m signing from LAFC last summer [Sky Sports], but they have now made official that the money is not locked in.

And according to journalist Cesar Luis Merlo on 12 August even the option is only worth €2.5m (£2.1m) to further reduce the the potential benefit.

Rangers cross fingers for Aris Thessaloniki success

Nils Koppen managing to get even an option included in the deal that would land the Light Blues a substantial profit is some achievement in light of developments over the past year.

But when it was expected to be a certain cash windfall of such a good size it is an obvious disappointment to find the reality is that it may not arrive at all.

And when Philippe Clement has already seen any financial boost from advancing towards the Champions League go begging in bitter circumstances with the controversial defeat to Dynamo Kyiv it is all the more of a let down.

Cifuentes was signed by Michael Beale last year as the final piece of the puzzle at Ibrox, but despite some early flashes he never settled in Glasgow and left for Brazil in January after just 20 appearances, largely off the bench.

When he arrived Cruzeiro the then-coach Nicolas Larcamon indicated his permanent option was sure to be activated [Daily Record, 10 February].

However, he only played nine times in all competitions and the manager lost his job, culminating in the latest move.

There will of course be hope that Cifuentes can rebound in Greece to benefit both Aris and Rangers, but the 25-year-old’s form will need to bounce back or the Light Blues could be back in the same position again next summer after the deal didn’t prove to be all had been cracked up to be.

In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton reacted to the controversy as the Light Blues were knocked out of the Champions League.

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