Watch Rangers-linked winger show fighting spirit Philippe Clement needs as fists fly in 'serious incident'
11/12/2024 01:00 PM
It takes more than just talent to play for Rangers with mental resilience and a willingness to do the dirty work key attributes required too.
Philippe Clement still has issues in his squad but the manager has been rumoured as being interested in a player who isn't afraid to roll his sleeves up.
Rangers have been tenuously linked with Arif Aiman Hanapi who is a winger for Malaysian Super League side Johor Darul Ta’zim but his latest appearance has shown another side to the 22-year old.
Arif Aiman Hanapi shows tough side after Rangers report
The speculation seems to have originated from a player profile drawn up from a Rangers X account, however, reliable Malaysian news outlet the New Straits Times have reported the claim.
With just seven minutes to go in his last game, Aiman and Perak's Tommy Mawat Bada got involved in a fracas with the Rangers-targeted winger the instigator.
Both players were yellow carded, however, these could be upgraded and suspensions dished out.
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Datuk S. Sivasundaram said of the incident involving Aiman:
"I see it as a serious incident when punching, shoving and pushing are involved,"
"The players have to control their emotions when they are on the field because whatever they do will only cause problems for themselves."
How impressive are Aiman’s numbers?
At least Clement and recruitment chief Nils Koppen know that Aiman can handle himself – if he is indeed a target – although his discipline would have to be considerably better should the SPFL be his next destination.
The treatment of Alfredo Morelos alone is enough evidence to suggest that Rangers players with firey temperaments won't be allowed to get away with flashpoints that other players might.
Aiman doesn't have anything to worry about in terms of the numbers that he produces though.
At 22-years old, he already has 23 international caps for Malaysia with six goals to his name.
Domestically this season in 15 appearances, Aiman has eight goals and eight assists, the sort of return that Rangers wingers have struggled to produce in recent years.
A player capable of producing when it matters and of getting his hands dirty is exactly the type of player Clement needs.
