Gheorghe Hagi reckons his son Ianis was Rangers' "best player" before he picked up an injury as he took aim at Romania boss Edi Iordanescu for snubbing the playmaker.
Hagi was ignored by his country for their Euro 2024 double header with Andorra and Belraus as he works on his fitness at Auchenhowie after returning from injury following 13 months out after a serious knee injury. Michael Beale has eased the 24-year-old back into his first-team plans with the midfielder making just one start after returning to the Light Blues' squad - in the Scottish Cup win over Partick Thistle where he was replaced at half-time.
He has made four Scottish Premiership appearances off the bench, and Hagi's famous dad, who played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, has been left raging that he was not recalled to the international set-up. After being accused of ignoring Hagi Jr, Iordanescu insisted the the Rangers star was still in his plans - but was being allowed to stay at Auchenhowie and work under Beale.
Bemused Gheorghe, however, still can't understand why the midfielder was left out - insisting he has proven he deserved a recall to the Romania set-up with his former before the nightmare injury. A heated Hagi 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 At his peak he was the best player at Rangers, he went to the Europa League final. 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."
Iordanescu has also stated he has spoke with Ianis, which has been dismissed by Gheorghe during the heated rant. He went on: They didn't talk, they sent messages. "It's a detail, again! It was messages after the call up list has been given out. How is Ianis missing? Ianis is not wanted there, he is healthy."
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