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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Robbie Hanratty

Former Romania boss challenges Ianis Hagi to raise work rate upon Rangers' return

Ianis Hagi has come under scrutiny from a former national team manager - who has claimed the Romanian playmaker needs to improve his workrate.

The 25-year-old, who represented Romania at Euro 2024 this summer, has been told what he needs to do to potentially captain his country in the future.

Hagi, who has been on Rangers' books since January 2020, was pivotal to Romania's run to the last-16 of the European Championships, where they were ultimately outclassed by the Netherlands.

As he prepares to return to Ibrox ahead of the new season, Hagi will be assessed by Rangers manager Philippe Clement with his long-term future still hanging in the balance following an underwhelming loan spell at La Liga side, Deportivo Alaves, during the 2023/24 campaign.


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Razvan Lucescu managed the Romanian national team between 2009 and 2011 and has praised Hagi's strong technical abilities.

Although, he believes the midfielder requires a strong supporting cast around him to be truly effective at the highest level.

Speaking to Gazeta Sporturilor in his homeland, Lucescu stated: "I think that Ianis the way he is built, with his talent, he needs a team behind him that will help him a lot, to enhance his technique and his vision of the game.

"He is not a great effort player! He is a player who needs to know that others are well positioned, that they cover him when he makes a mistake, to have this peace and freedom to make mistakes in order to highlight his quality, first of all his vision of the game.

"I have no idea, I don't know if he is a leader! Leaders are born, they are educated. It must have something. I don't know him as a person, I know that he is a very serious player, with great ambition and determination."

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