Euro 2024 hero now one step closer to Rangers return as 'intelligent' Dutch star hailed
07/03/2024 06:00 AM
There was only one Rangers representative at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.
And he wasn't even an Ibrox player last season.
Ianis Hagi was once the shining light of the Rangers squad as hopes built that the club had engineered a move for a potential world-beater.
One cruciate ligament injury and disappointing loan spell at Alavés in La Liga later, and suddenly Hagi's Rangers dream looked to have finished before it even began.
But as Euro 2024's last 16 proves a step too far for Romania, Hagi is closer to a surprise return to Rangers with a new manager set to run the Ibrox rule over the player one final time.
Dutch courage ends Hagi's Romania dream
Ianis Hagi started on the right for Romania as they crashed out of Euro 2024 at the hands of a dominant Netherlands side.
The Dutch eventually ran out 3-0 winners over the Rangers star's yellow-shirted nation but the truth is they spurned a host of chances to be run away winners.
The result ends what's been an impressive tournament for Hagi, who has earned plaudits for his performances across the tournament.
It also means that the attacking midfielder is one step closer to a return to Rangers as the Dutch give the Romanians a harsh footballing lesson.
Interestingly, at the heart of the action was Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who might've joined Rangers had it not been for Bert Konterman.
The former AZ midfielder held off and won a move to AC Milan amid Gers interest and was hailed by former England midfielder Danny Murphy for almost scoring a wonderful solo goal in the second half.
"Reijnders is a nice footballer," Murphy told BBC Sport. "Intelligent.
"He is playing a bit deeper today. I saw him play a bit higher in the group stage and he has that ability to do both. Incredible run from him."
What next for Ianis Hagi at Rangers?
There's been plenty of speculation about Ianis Hagi and his future at Rangers already in this transfer window.
This was further flamed by the player himself claiming that his agents had been instructed to work out his options so that he could focus on Euro 2024.
But before the attacking midfielder does anything this season, Philippe Clement and his backroom staff are expected to run the rule over the player.
This is an assertion backed up by respected Romanian football journalist Emmanuel Rosu, who claims a decision is to be taken on Hagi's future later in the window.
"He likes Rangers a lot, he didn't leave because he wanted to," Rosu said towards the end of June.
"He was told that he was not going to play too much under Beale and that is why he left last year.
"He had also just recovered from injury.
"I believe no decision regarding his future was made, there will be plenty of time after the Euros."
Ianis Hagi initially joined Rangers on loan in the January of 2020 and has gone on to make 99 appearances for the Ibrox side, scoring 16 goals.
