Nice captain Dante has called for sympathy for former Rangers flop Aaron Ramsey when he eventually returns to French football after vanishing.
The midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Rangers, but the 32-year-old made only five league starts for then-manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side in an injury-hampered spell.
And he missed the crucial penalty in the spot kick shoot-out against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League Final in Seville in May.
Ramsey was handed a lifeline in the summer by ambitious Ligue 1 side Nice, but he's stunned the club's manager Lucien Favre by not returning to the club despite it being almost a month since he played for Wales when they were hammered by England in their World Cup exit.
But former Bayern Munich stopper Dante is hoping their fans will show sympathy and not anger if and when he does return to action.
He said: "We have to respect Aaron as a human being.
"He was given a few extra days off and we have to understand that it has taken time for him to adapt here.
"It is not easy when you spend time in other cities and he had an injury during the World Cup too.
"He is in constant contact with the club and I hope it will be fit again soon to help us. He is someone who can make us better by bringing their experience."
Ramsey has managed just five starts in Ligue 1 for Nice since he signed at the start of the season.
Meanwhile, Scott Arfield admits it will be further “down the road” before decisions are made about his future at Rangers.
The 34-year-old midfielder is one of several Gers players including Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos whose contracts are up at the end of the season.
Arfield, who signed for the Light Blues from Burnley in 2018, again showed his worth to Rangers last week with an added-time double after coming off the bench to give the Ibrox side a remarkable 3-2 win at Aberdeen.
Ahead of the cinch Premiership game against Motherwell at Ibrox on Wednesday night, he said: “I’d love to stay here for as long as possible.
“Whether that be in any capacity. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here since I walked through the door and I want to keep those moments going.”
Asked if there had been any contract talks, he smiled as he replied: “No, not at the minute. When you get over 30, these talks stop.
“That’s just football and that’s just life. You take it day by day and if you get the opportunity that works for everybody, then you’re more than happy to stay.
“It’ll be down the road. You’re not an asset anymore.
“There’s bigger assets at this football club. You need to stay in your lane and know where you are at this minute in time.
“I have no problem with that.”
