Ianis Hagi's father has launched a scathing attack on the Romanian national team for excluding his son from crucial EURO 2024 qualifying games.
Romanian legend Gheorghe has been fuming in recent weeks over Ianis' exclusion despite not playing for the best part of a year at Rangers due to a severe injury sustained last year. The winger has been crocked for some time but Michael Beale was keen to stress the 24-year-old still has an important role to play in his system.
Hagi was snubbed ahead of Romania's campaign and dad Gheorghe - who made over 120 appearances for his country - has blasted boss Edward Iordănescu for the decision. It is believed, according to reports in his homeland, that Hagi Snr's comments haven't done any wonders for Ianis' reputation among his team-mates.
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He launched an incredible rant aimed squarely at Iordănescu and made the even bolder claim that Rangers reached the Europa League final due to Hagi's involvement. He also motioned to brand Ianis as the 'best player' at Ibrox.
He told Digi Sport : "Edi Iordanescu showed me personally that Ianis Hagi is not important to him.
"Ianis proved that he is the best player at Rangers before his injury. Rangers played in the Europa League final thanks to Ianis scoring in Denmark (scoring against Brondby in the group stage). If not, Rangers do not pass the group. He is leaving out some fundamental things that make the difference.
"Ianis is healthy at the moment. Everyone knows he was injured. At his peak he was the best player at Rangers, he went to the Europa League. Ianis plays for a team with immense pressure in Europe.
"He showed he can handle the pressure, he was unlucky to miss 12 months. It makes sense that when you're out for 12 months you should have the same amount of time to come back, but at the moment he's on the pitch.
"He's there, he's on the bench at Rangers, he's not out. It takes time to recover."
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