Given remarks he made last week on his time on loan with Alaves, Ianis Hagi may have already played his final game for Rangers.
After finding it difficult to get playing time at Ibrox, the 25-year-old was transferred to the Spanish team in August for a season-long loan.
Hagi, a 99-game veteran and former fan favorite, struggled to establish himself in the lineup following his year-long absence.
Given the Romania international is under contract until the end of the 2025-26 season, he is technically set to return to Glasgow next summer.
However, it now seems more likely he will stay put at Alaves should a deal be agreed if a recent interview he has given is anything to go by.
Speaking on the LaLiga podcast [16 November], he said: “It has always been my favourite league and I have always followed it.
“I love Spanish football, the Spanish mentality. I’m in love with the country and the lifestyle here. I’m really enjoying my time here.”
Asked about Alaves in particular, Hagi said: “They are always ambitious and they align with who I am, my personality and mentality.”
As far as coded messages go, Hagi has made it quite clear he is loving life in LaLiga and it sounds as though he would happily stay put.
Even with Philippe Clement now in place, it is difficult to see a way back for Hagi at Ibrox should he return in the summer.
Rangers will attempt to recover the £4.5 million that they reportedly paid to acquire Hagi permanently in May 2020 [Daily Record].
He is obviously a gifted player; all he needs to do is play regular football. However, he is not good enough to beg to come back.
Hagi might just be making the correct statements, but at this point, it seems more likely that his future is now outside of Glasgow.
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