Ianis Hagi lands explosive Rangers defence from dad as rant names Michael Beale

Alaves misfit Ianis Hagi has been defended by his dad Gheorghe in a heated 17-minute rant – as he declared the Romania international would return to Rangers this summer.

Haji Jr was benched for the eleventh consecutive La Liga game and he has struggled to kickstart his career away from the Scottish Premiership having been shipped out on loan by Michael Beale. Ianis made a four-minute cameo against Osasuna but the Romania international has received criticism in his homeland – with some pundits claiming he should not be called up for the Euro 2024 squad.

But former Real Madrid and Barcelona star Gheorghe has leapt to the defence of his son as he took on the Romanian media. He claims that his son was caught off guard by former boss Beale when he was left out of the squad for the Champions League play-off with PSV Eindhoven – sparking the move to Spain.

Hagi Sr said: “Ianis is coming after a year in which he was injured. Before the new competitive year, a few days before the transfer window closed, something happened at Rangers (left out of the Champions League squad) and he was surprised. He reacted as much as he could in a few days, he went to the second-best championship in the world. He has played 21 matches so far this competitive year. Keep in mind, after a year or so of injury, when many people stopped believing.

“He played this year, appeared on the club team as much as he could. As long as he played as a starter, he played very well from my point of view. Even if he is not successful or did not establish himself as a starter. In September, October and November, he was with the national team. He missed at least 10 days every month, being a new player. So his adjustment took longer.

“He is in an elite football, the best, the most creative and technical in the world. Appeared about 21 times, starter or less. It’s not the right holder, as we expected. Everything that was said in the newspapers by some of your colleagues is just evil, nonsense, lies. Word got around that Rangers didn’t want Ianis.

“Ianis has a contract with Rangers, he will return there in the summer. It came out in the poll, when it was voted, that everyone wants it. He’s the Rangers player, not saved by dad, in quotes. It is not possible anymore, I feel like laughing when I see this. He can’t come back even if we want him to.

“It reached a level. I think that Ianis’ level is among the top three in Romania in terms of international experience. He played abroad, he succeeded abroad, and he has matches in European cups.

“He won the award for the best player both in our country and abroad. They are facts, concrete things. In the fall, when it was hard and the pressure was high, it made the difference. It made a difference.

“The best came out, the player with the best performance. What more do you want to convince yourself? What more do you want from a player who loves Romania?”