Genk took Ianis Hagi from Romanian side Viitorul Constanța last summer, but the attacking midfielder struggled in the first half of this season.
Therefore, the Jupiler Pro League side allowed the 21-year-old to join Rangers on loan in January and the Scottish Premiership side have an option to make the deal permanent in the summer.
Steven Gerrard has given the Romania international opportunities and he’s impressed for Rangers. Hagi scored a brace in Rangers’ 3-2 win over Braga and set up the winning goal in the return leg.
Gerrard’s men won that tie 1-0.
Hagi’s compatriot, Alin Stoica, who previously represented Anderlecht and Club Brugge, has given his verdict on the player.
“I don’t know why Ianis failed in Belgium. Belgian football, at present, is the worst in the history of Belgium! 95% of the players who are now in Belgium, without false modesty,” Stoica told Romanian outlet ProSport Live.
“In the 2000s, [these players] couldn’t even get into the locker room! I’m talking about quality!
“Ianis Hagi is a rising player. I wish that any young player, as I was, could succeed. Because if you have a career where you don’t win trophies, I think you played football for nothing!”
On March 2nd, we carried a report from La Lazio Siamo Noi, who explained that Lazio are interested in the Genk owned player. It was also stated there’s been ‘some contact’ between the Serie A side and Hagi’s entourage.
