Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Ianis Hagi backed to handle Rangers pressure as Adrian Mutu makes Scottish referee quip

Adrian Mutu is confident countryman Ianis Hagi will be a Rangers smash-hit.

The Romanian has earned praise from Steven Gerrard his loan move from Genk after he bagged a vital late Premiership winner against Hibs last week.

Former Chelsea and Juventus star Mutu - who is now the country's U-21 manager - believes Hagi has made the right choice to go to Glasgow - even if he's not a fan of the referees.

He said: "It's a good move for Ianis. Rangers are a much bigger team than Genk, who have never been a club with a lot of history.

"I think Ianis will show everyone, not just me because I know already, what a good player he is.

"He is at a big team, with big players and a great manager. There will be pressure, but that's okay.

"For me, when I was at his age, I also had difficulties at Inter Milan. When I started getting a lot of games when I was about 21 at Verona, I started to play well and I think the same thing will happen with Ianis.

"I think we have all been asking too much of Ianis. His father Gheorghe has really put the pressure on him, but I think that's because he's his boy and he wants to motivate him.

"It happened to me. When we lost it was 'Mutu lost' and when we won it was the opposite. That's how it will be with Ianis.

"He's playing for a great team who will dominate the league and the pace of the game in Scotland is much quicker than in Belgium, which will help him.

"And in Scotland, the referees forget their whistle and leave it at home when there is a lot of action going on!"

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.