42-year-old compares ‘incredible’ gem Rangers reportedly want to buy to Ronaldo and Messi

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Glasgow Rangers on-loan ace Ianis Hagi has been praised by compatriot Marian Aliuta, who made a comparison between the Ibrox gem and the two best players in world football (Daily Record).

Hagi joined Rangers on a six-month loan at the end of the January transfer window from Belgian club Genk and the 21-year-old took no time at all in becoming an Ibrox fan favourite.

The Romania international has weighed in with an impressive three goals, plus two assists, from 12 Rangers games, including his superb brace in the Europa League last-32 first leg win over Braga.

Rangers have an option to make Hagi’s signing permanent at the end of the season and, according to Goal.com, the Ibrox side is close to completing the deal.

Aliuta, a former Romania international, gave Hagi huge praise by comparing him to two of the greatest players ever to play the game – Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

“Neither Messi nor Ronaldo hit the ball so perfectly with both feet when they were Ianis’ age,” the 42-year-old is quoted by the Daily Record as saying. “That’s his big advantage. His technical skill with both feet is incredible. Although he’s not the quickest, his positional sense is excellent too.

“He’s a really smart player, but he must be allowed to grow and improve at his own rate without too much pressure being put on him. Everyone will obviously compare him to Gheorghe because he has this famous name on his back. But that won’t make him a success on its own.

“He knows he can’t take the name for granted. The more matches he plays and the more experience he gets, the better he will be for it. There’s no question he will grow enormously and have a great career.”

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Things could hardly have gone any better so far for both Hagi and for Rangers, the youngster loving life at the famous club, which in turn has benefitted from his services and is reportedly close to sealing a permanent deal.

As talented as Hagi is and as much promise as he’s shown, it’s important for him to be at the right club to truly prosper and be happy – his switch to Fiorentina didn’t work out, while this one seems to be working out very well.

And with Gheorghe Hagi – the player’s father and widely deemed Romania’s greatest ever footballer – describing Rangers as the “ideal team” for his son (Daily Record), you could hardly get a more ringing endorsement than that, though there are certainly many more coming his way.