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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Mark Walker

Football legend backs his son to make big impact in Clement's new-look Rangers

Gheorghe Hagi has backed his son Ianis Hagi to make a big impact next season at Ibrox with Philippe Clement's new-look Rangers.

The Romania international will play his final game on loan with Alaves this weekend and is scheduled to return to Rangers after that.

He still has two years left of his deal to run, but it's unclear if he fits into Philippe Clement's plans for next season, with the Belgian set for major surgery to his squad.

Hagi made just seven starts in La Liga and failed to score a single goal in Spanish football's top flight.

But his father, former Real Madrid and Barcelona ace Hagi senior, maintained he had progressed during his season on loan and insisted the 25-year-old is a top player.

He said: "After his season ends, Ianis will be preparing for the Euros and then we will see what he does next in the summer."

He still has two years left at Rangers.



"At Rangers, he was their best young player when they won the league," said Hagi "He is not going anywhere, he was just loaned to Alaves. There are many opportunities for him.

"I believe he had a good season in Spain - for example, he was the best player for his team in their recent game against Real Madrid.

"People need to remember and everyone seems to forget that he has recovered from a very, very serious knee injury.

"If it were up to me and I managed a big team in Europe I would be the first to sign him!

"He has experience in Europe, he played at a very high level. He qualified with all the national teams, at every level. And he won a championship in the West, at 22 years old.

"He still has around 11 years left of his career injury permitting, There is more to come."

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