Ianis Hagi's father 'harming' Rangers loanee as Romania legend Gheorghe told to stop exaggerating

Former Romania star Tudorel Stoica has leapt to the defence of Ianis Hagi, and reckons that the Alaves loanee is under too much pressure to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father.

After making just 11 appearances for Rangers in an injury-ravaged campaign in 2022/23, the 25-year-old joined up with newly promoted La Liga side Alaves last summer on a season-long loan deal. However, the 33-time Romania cap has struggled to find consistency with just two goals and one assist in 24 matches, and will need a strong end to the season to increase his chances of making his nation's squad for EURO 2024.

But according to Craioveanu, the constant praise lavished on the playmaker by his dad Gheorghe "Gica" Hagi is not doing him any favours. Craioveanu played alongside Hagi Snr at Steaua Bucharest in the late 1980s, with the pair helping their team to a memorable European Cup triumph in 1986. Hagi Snr is the most celebrated Romanian footballer of all time, winning major silverware with European heavyweights Real Madrid, Barcelona and Galatasaray.

Speaking to Digisport, Stoica said: "I think that Gica is harming Ianis by praising him. I understand him, it's his father, but Ianis didn't really play where he was and it doesn't do him any good.

"I say that everyone defends their child, praises him, but to say that he was declared the best, and the team lost, seems exaggerated to me. Gica was my colleague, but I think he is exaggerating and harming the child."

Fellow ex-Romanian star Gheorghe Craioveanu, who played with Hagi Snr at the 1998 World Cup, also echoed Stoica's words and points out that sons always find it difficult to emulate the success of their father's in football,. Speaking on a Romanian football podcast, he added: