Breaking News:Agent confirms £2m ace is not joining Rangers as he’s set for Russia move
Patience was the key word for Rangers boss Philippe Clement.
When speaking about a few of the new faces to arrived at Ibrox during the summer transfer window, the former Monaco boss insisted that the Rangers fans would have to bide their time before seeing a couple playing regularly in that iconic blue shirt.
While former Aberdeen midfielder Connor Barron and left-back Jefte Vital will go straight into the XI, the same cannot be said of either Hamza Igamane or 19-year-old Clinton Nsiala.
Igamane is brand new to European football, swapping Morocco for Glasgow. Former AC Milan starlet Nsiala, meanwhile, is yet to play a single senior match in the professional game.
“We have some players who have come in who are longer term,” Clement tells Rangers Review. “Like Clinton Nsiala. He has a lot of talent, but he needs the experience and he needs to learn a lot of things. I don’t expect him to be a starting player.
“The same with Hamza Igamane. He will not be ready to start. He’s never trained or played physically at this level. He comes out of a holiday too, so we need to build him up. We have other players like Connor Barron and Jefte who can get there faster.”
Clement preaches patience with Rangers’ Clinton Nsiala
Bringing the teenager to Scotland after expressing an interest in a couple of more experienced left-sided centre-halves, Rangers will be hoping that their faith in the fresh-faced Frenchman pays off.
Clement’s side had initially looked at Jose Cordoba before Norwich City won the race.
There was interest in Thomas Galdames too, the versatile Chilean who currently plays in Argentine football with Godoy Cruz. Though not for much longer.
Earlier in the summer, Scotland or Belgium appeared to be Galdames’ most likely destination. Now, however, a move to Russia appears imminent.
Chilean publication En Cancha reports that Galdames will sign a three-year contract at Krylia Sovetov. The team who finished ninth in the Russian Premier League last season represents a first – and somewhat surprising – move across the Atlantic for a man who has proven himself capable of thriving both at left-back and at centre-half.
Leonardo Rodriguez, a member of Galdames’ camp, has now confirmed that the Solidarnost Arena – rather than Ibrox – will be where the defender ends up.
“Thomas is indeed moving to Krylia,” Rodriguez tells Sport24.
Thomas Galdames is leaving Argentina for Russia
It is not certain at this stage exactly how much Krylia will pay Godoy Cruz. Red Gol, however, believe that Galdames is valued in the region of £2 million.
Nsiala, meanwhile, is expected to play a big role over the coming years on the blue side of the Old Firm divide.
Clement may be wary of throwing him in at the deep end but it is worth remembering that fellow left-footer Calvin Bassey joined Rangers in similar circumstances before earning the club a near £20 million profit later down the line.
“He’s a centre-back with a very good, modern profile,” former Rangers ace and Milan coach Marco Negri tells the Daily Record of Nsiala.
“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.”
“I’m confident he can be a good signing. As a defender, Clinton is very aggressive. He’s strong in the one-v-one situations. He’s not very tall but he is good in the air. There are nice attributes.
“The hope of everyone at Ibrox is that Clinton follows the same path as Bassey,” Negri adds. “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.
“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.”
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