As they say, it’s not always greener on the other side. Just speak with three Rangers players who left in the summer of 2023, and they will tell you everything there is to know about their post-Ibrox careers not exactly going as planned.
Ryan Kent is wasting away on the bench in Istanbul, having hardly kicked a ball in anger during his time at Fenerbahce. He may even come to regret turning down Lazio and Hull City in January.Meanwhile, back in Brazil, Alfredo Morelos is encountering the same issues with Santos.
As for a player who previously cost a cool £3 million to sign with Rangers and left when his contract expired four years later, Filip Helander’s season started off full of promise but has since fallen apart fairly significantly in the last few weeks.
The armband of captain is taken away from the former £3 million Rangers player.
First, there came the humiliation of a 36-minute withdrawal versus Vejle, with Odense Boldklub manager Soren Krogh expressing his dissatisfaction with Helander’s efforts openly at full time.
And just before last Friday’s match against Rangers’ Scandinavian near-namesakes Randers SC, the Sweden international was deprived of the captain’s armband by OB director Bjorn Wesstrom, following the possibly counterproductive move of disclosing the “tough phase” he had found himself in.
Wesstrom said that the choice was taken in an effort to relieve some of Helander’s burdens.
When asked about losing the captaincy after that 2-2 draw, the 30-year-old center-half was cautious to play it close to the vest. Helander had opened his account for OB in the 88th minute.
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However, it’s quite evident—and understandable—that his dignity has taken a hit.
Helander said to the Danish newspaper Bold, “Well, that’s the club’s decision.” When the outcomes are not as favorable as expected, you will attempt to make changes.
“It’s not a big deal to me,” he maintains. “Tom Trybull, Martin Hansen, and Bashkim Kadrii make up our captain group. Because he has been a member of the club for a long time and understands what it means to people, I believe Bashkim makes an excellent captain.
Therefore, it’s not a huge concern to me. I make an effort to always be the same person.
After-Ibrox challenges persist
Wesstrom’s justification for the choice was what left Helander with a bad taste in his mouth, not the armband’s disappearance. The director stated that he wished to lessen Helander’s sense of “responsibility.”
But it was not, the seasoned defender thought, what he had been having trouble with.
“I find it difficult to comprehend that you don’t accept accountability for your actions,” continues Helander, a member of the Rangers team that won the Scottish Premiership in 2021 under Steven Gerrard.
“I always strive to give it my all.”
But it didn’t seem like his “best” would be enough for Odense to go on with Helander guiding the squad every week. In what is becoming a very intense relegation race, the former Rangers favorite is at least leaving his imprint after scoring in his debut game without the armband.
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