Romania great makes 'Quality' Hagi verdict in 'Nightmare' Rangers admission

Romania legend Gheorge Popescu believes Ianis Hagi can now show his “quality” after admitting he was in a “nightmare” situation at Rangers.

The Romania international was due a £6000 wage boost after his 100th Gers appearance, which led to him being excluded from Philippe Clement’s squad at the start of the season [Daily Record, 14 August].

Rangers and Hagi have since come to an agreement that allows him to be reintegrated into the squad, something ex-Barcelona and Romania great Popsescu – who played with his father Gheorghe Hagi – has welcomed..

“After Ianis came back [to Rangers], things finally went back to normal, because that’s normal at a club the size of Rangers. Players should be evaluated by individual value, not by certain clauses in the contract. I’m glad that the nightmare ended for him and he returned to the team,” he said to Pro Sport (9 October).

“I’m convinced that all this time has caught up with him and strengthened him, becoming the player we all know. With a lot of quality, with the ambition to perform. I am very close to Ianis and I am convinced that he will have a very good season”.

Ianis Hagi could cause Rangers a headache this season

Everyone knows how good of a player Hagi is on his day. While his loan spell to La Liga with Deportivo Alaves last season wasn’t his strongest campaign, it’s obvious that he’s still full of talent.

His natural role is that of a number 10 and although he’s been used on the wing occasionally, it seems like Clement will use him in a central role.

The Gers spent most of their summer window looking for number 10s and eventually managed to pry Nedim Bajrami away from Sassuolo for a fee worth around £3.3million [Gianluca Di Marzio, 30 August].

However, now that Hagi has been reintegrated into the squad, questions are being asked whether the money spent on the Albania international could have been better spent elsewhere.

It’s still early in the season and, thanks to the stellar form of Tom Lawrence and Bajrami, it’s hard to see how Clement will keep all three happy with their game time, causing yet another headache for him to deal with.

And, naturally, Hagi will be looking to make more of an impact when he did off the bench in the 2-0 win over St Johnstone last time out when he was sent off.

In other Rangers news, Philippe Clement has baffled Alan Hutton after his latest Dujon Sterling admission.

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