Nicolas Raskin is “wasting his time” at Rangers and it is strange that no Premier League team moved for him this summer.
That’s the opinion of Philippe Albert. Speaking to Le Soir, he’s made it clear he’s furious about Rangers reportedly blocking Raskin’s exit this week.
Rangers exit blocked
The Belgian midfielder appeared destined for a departure from Ibrox this week as Besiktas pushed hard to secure his signature.
He was keen on the move – after being convinced by international teammate Leandro Trossard – and seemed destined to move on Wednesday. Reports in Türkiye certainly suggested as much.
But that confidence quickly evaporated as Rangers demanded a change in the terms of the original agreement. Sport Witness have covered reports today explaining how that came about.
Raskin has since cancelled the plan, after playing for Rangers on Wednesday evening. He appears set for another season at Ibrox, something Albert simply cannot understand.
“Nicolas Raskin doesn’t belong in Scotland,” he said.
“In recent years, he has proven he is a cut above the rest. He’s Rangers’ best player. It’s a club with a rich history but one that is currently adrift, winning few trophies and, what’s more, already eliminated from European competition.
“I respect the Scottish league, but a guy like Raskin is wasting his time there. As for not getting a transfer? I don’t understand why no Premier League club made a move.”
Besiktas would have been interesting
Albert would have liked to see the Belgian midfielder heading to Türkiye with Besiktas. He sees that as an interesting option for the midfielder.
“It would have been interesting, because the standard there is higher than in Scotland,” he added.
“There are great rivalries, and Beşiktaş plays in the Europa League – which is, after all, a great showcase…”
A move away from Rangers now appears to be off the table, until January at least. Albert isn’t concerned about that but thinks the midfielder will need guaranteed playing time.
“I don’t think it will affect him mentally; he has the right mindset to bounce back—as he showed at Standard – and he always performs well on the pitch,” he concluded.
“I’m not worried about him, though he’ll obviously have to grit his teeth and push through. If he wants to keep his spot with the Red Devils, he needs to play and get match fitness. In any case, I hope his situation gets sorted out and he can find a solution.”
