Last summer, Rangers extended Óscar Cortés’ loan stay until the end of this season after initially signing him on loan from RC Lens in the winter 2024 market.
The Colombia international has played over 600 minutes from 15 games for Rangers of which 226 minutes are from this season.
Cortés had a chat with Caracol Radio‘s Vbar, where he discussed various topics, including his injury situation.
The winger explained he has been training with the group for a month and is now closer to returning to the pitch.
“Thank God, I’m training alongside the team. I’ve been training with my teammates for a month now. I’m fine, and I feel good, which is the most important thing for getting playing time,” he said.
“I was in the squad for the last game, unfortunately I couldn’t get in, but on Saturday I have a great opportunity to come in and get playing time.”
The Rangers man arrived in Europe when Lens signed him from Millonarios FC in 2023 and quizzed about his ‘difficult adaptation’.
“It’s normal for a young player. I arrived at Lens when I was 19, and the language was a bit difficult for me. But I was always certain that I could have exploded at any moment. I also didn’t count on the fact that the coach didn’t like me very much,” Cortés explained.
“But it was always great; I learned a lot there. They helped me come to Rangers with the same confidence. Lens is a great team, even though I had few opportunities, but I’m always grateful for opening the doors for me in Europe.”
The Colombian’s compatriot, Alfredo Morelos, was at Ibrox between 2017 and 2023. The 28-year-old is currently on loan at Atlético Nacional from Santos. During his time at the Scottish club, he scored 124 goals and registered 57 assists from 269 games.
Cortés says Morelos is a fan favourite at Ibrox and is determined to follow in his footsteps at Rangers even though it’s challenging.
“Alfredo Morelos is very well-liked here. Everyone talks to me about him, about his performance at the club, about all the goals he scored,” he added.
“I think he’s the team’s top scorer in the Europa League, and that’s helped me a lot to make a name for myself here, to follow in those footsteps. It’s difficult, but never impossible, and when I’m fit, I hope to do some of the things he did here too.”
As a part of the current loan deal, Rangers have an obligation to make the player’s stay permanent at the end of this season.
