Ianis Hagi called out by Romania boss but Rangers star earns defence from ally no one saw coming

A former manager of the Romanian national team has called Ianis Hagi's work rate into question and has told the Rangers playmaker what he needs to do if he wants to go on and captain his country.

Attacking midfielder Hagi played in all four of Romania's matches at Euro 2024, helping them reach the last 16 where they were heavily beaten by the Netherlands. The 25-year-old will soon report back to Auchenhowie ahead of the new season, where he will be assessed by Philippe Clement.

Razvan Lucescu coached the Romania team between 2009 and 2011, and despite praising Hagi's ability on the ball, believes he needs other players around him in order to be effective. Speaking to gsp.ro, Lucescu- who led Greek side PAOK to the league title last season - said: "I think that Ianis the way he is built, with his talent, he needs a team behind him that will help him a lot, to enhance his technique and his vision of the game.

"He is not a great effort player! He is a player who needs to know that others are well positioned, that they cover him when he makes a mistake, to have this peace and freedom to make mistakes in order to highlight his quality, first of all his vision of the game. I have no idea, I don't know if he is a leader! Leaders are born, they are educated. It must have something. I don't know him as a person, I know that he is a very serious player, with great ambition and determination."

Hagi - who spent the whole of last season on loan with Alaves in La Liga, has made just 13 appearances in the last two years at Rangers due to injury and loss of form, and his agent has recently came out to declare that he is willing to fork out his own money to secure a move elsewhere if the playmaker is not wanted at Ibrox.

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