Hamza Igimane has officially left Rangers to join Ligue 1 side Lille in a £10.4 million deal. The now former 22-year-old striker has bid adieu to the club in the wake of a truly scandalous affair. He did not report to Rangers for a January Scottish Premiership game versus St Mirren, claiming that he was hurt. His transfer to Lille, which involves a five-year contract, represents the beginning of a new phase in his career.
Igamane went through a breakthrough first year with Rangers, scoring 16 goals and announcing himself as an exciting young prospect. Things ratcheted up another notch when he ruled himself out of playing in the upcoming game against St Mirren. This decision fueled distrust around his loyalty to the organization. When I decided to leave, the decision had only been a few days after the incident. Rangers’ manager Russell Martin was understandably quick to shoot down the insinuation.
It’s really difficult for a young man, a young man that doesn’t speak the language, that’s being told, ‘Don’t worry, your future is going to be elsewhere,’ and then I’m asking him to be all in and do this and ‘this is what we need from you’ and all that stuff. That’s super hard,” acknowledged Martin. He said that he doesn’t get offended when Igamane has a hard day at the club.
While Igamane starts a new chapter in France, Rangers are already planning for the future. They have initiated a transfer deal for Bojan Miovski, who is currently undergoing a medical ahead of his own £4.2 million move from Girona. The North Macedonia international had netted 44 times in 98 outings for Aberdeen before making the move. He found life difficult in LaLiga, scoring just four goals in 23 appearances.
Miovski’s Scottish return barely a year after moving to Spain for £6.8 million. Shepards is on the verge of signing the paperwork on a four-year deal. It’s a significant addition as the club continues to transition, and it will definitely deepen Rangers’ attacking well.
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