Ex-Rangers ace claims club left 'very upset' as another 'aggressive' signing heads to Ibrox

AC Milan were “very upset” that Clinton Nsiala didn’t sign a new deal and has chosen to move to Rangers, according to Marco Negri.

The former Ibrox defender told the Daily Record on 12 June that the young centre-back “could turn out to be a great signing” if he is able to adapt to the fact that his next destination is “not a normal club”.

Frenchman Nsiala, 20, is joining the Light Blues on a free transfer after signing a pre-contract agreement, but having yet to feature in senior football is still seen as a project, but Negri suggests he could follow the route of former Gers star Calvin Bassey in banking the club a big profit down the line.

The Italian said: “He’s a centre-back with a very good, modern profile. Very, very aggressive, a good left foot and comfortable on the ball. But he’s very young and he’s only played Under-19s football which is very different to first-team level.

“Of course he has to improve. I believe Philippe Clement speaks a little French having worked with Monaco so hopefully that means the language won’t be a barrier and he can work with Clinton. But this is a player you need to have patience with and wait for him to adjust. There’s a lot of work to be done…

“The hope of everyone at Ibrox is that Clinton follows the same path as Bassey. We all know that Rangers are looking for this kind of player that they can buy for cheap, help him improve and become successful at the club, and then if a bigger club with a lot of money comes along, they can sell him and use the money to buy another player.

“So when you can get a player like Clinton for free, then it’s a gamble worth taking. But Rangers have done well to get to him first. There were other Italian clubs looking at Nsiala, so he’s a player of interest.

“Everyone here in Italy knows he can be a cracking player. The board of Milan were very upset that he didn’t sign a new contract. Rangers are looking to do things that have an eye to the future and he is definitely a player for the future.”

Rangers sold Calvin Bassey to Ajax for over £19million

Nsiala will surely need time to develop yet if he has yet to establish himself in senior football, but he must be talented for multiple clubs to want him this summer, including his old one.

In that context it looks like Rangers might have managed to pull of a coup by bringing him in, and in light of the uncertainty that has characterised the defence in Glasgow at times an aggressive player is probably exactly what it needs, especially if it comes with ability on the ball.

When, and to what he extent, the new arrival can expect to add such qualities to the Gers back line will only become clear once Clement has had time to work with him during preseason.

But if Nsiala is able to emulate now-Fulham defender Bassey then he would certainly be considered a success in Scotland.

The Nigerian international cost the club just £230,000 from Leicester City two years before he was sold to Ajax for more than £19million off the back of his form in the run the Europa League final [Sky Sports].

Clement clearly has a focus on youngsters this summer with Nsiala, Jefte, and the returning Oscar Cortes all just 20, and with the news that the Gers are now leading the race to sign Connor Barron, 21, from Aberdeen [Scottish Sun, 12 June] that looks set to continue.

In other Rangers news, another free agent has admitted “it’s going to happen” amid speculation he could move to Ibrox.

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