There was no happy ending for Nico Raskin’s Standard Liege story - but the Ibrox new boy is excited to see where his Rangers adventure takes him as he begins a new chapter in Glasgow.
Michael Beale’s latest addition spent almost half of his young life on the books of his hometown club, forming a close bond that can trace its beginnings back to the day he joined Les Rouches’ ranks aged only seven. It was a partnership that took the dynamic midfield dictator from the nursery to the fringes of the national team but a breakdown in relations with the Juniper Pro League outfit’s top brass provided a plot twist that continues to sting with the 21-year-old Belgian. Feeling under appreciated as well as under paid, Raskin announced just before Christmas that he would not be signing new terms when his contract expired in the summer.
Leige’s response was anything but standard, with the club’s hardline hierarchy deciding to banish their star midfielder to the youth team as the insisted upon only fielding players who were totally committed to the cause. If it was a move designed to browbeat the Belgian Under-21 ace into rethinking his future, it didn’t work and Raskin is now enthusiastically looking forward to turning over a new page with Gers.
