Gică Hagi delivered a harsh speech against Rangers, the club where his son Ianis Hagi (25 years old) plays, a footballer who was put on the transfer list by the Scots.
Hagi revealed details about how Ianis is treated at Rangers and pointed fingers at coach Philippe Clement and the club’s leaders.
"The King" is unhappy that Ianis Hagi was not allowed to train with the first team at Rangers, despite his past performances for the Ibrox Park team.
"Ianis doesn't come first, he stays out. He has a contract with Rangers. Then, what happens to him at Rangers is a story. An ugly story. I didn't want to talk, but that's all I'll say. I also convey to those there, it's an ugly story. A player who was their best young player, got injured there, went to play and came back. And now he trains alone.
Or with whom he trains. If this happens in the West, what expectations can we have in Romania? If there, at the highest level, such things happen, excuse me. What can I, who played football at the highest level, understand? I thought to keep quiet. Ianis doesn't come to Romania, he stays there. He proved he can be there. He was the best young player at Rangers. I've heard a lot, I've noticed what's being written.
Ianis emerged as the best young player at Rangers. When Ianis was at Rangers, Rangers won the championship. When he wasn't there, they didn't win the championship. If even with a player who comes and wins the championship after so many years, then gets injured for Rangers, playing there, we do this... Where have we reached?! What is this football about? Where have we ended up?! Too far.
This is my point of view, as a former great footballer. He gave everything for Rangers, he is beloved by the public, how can he not train with the first team? He is their only national team player. What interests are there? How far have interests gone?! He is the player who made you champions alongside the others, Gerrard and the rest! And young, he is 25 years old. And he is the only one who was at the EURO, playing.
In the West, where we believe there are examples. I never thought that football would come to this, to such petty interests. Petty! It's serious that this is happening," Gică Hagi declared at a press conference after UTA - Farul 1-1, quoted by gsp.ro.
Gică Hagi points the finger at coach Philippe Clement: "Either you train alone, or with the second team"
"The King" Hagi was also furious with Rangers' coach, Philippe Clement, and said that Ianis is being "thrown away" by the Scots after he suffered a serious injury playing for the club.
"He respected everyone, did well there. The coach told him 'either you train alone, or with the second team.' He was sent there. The coach told him, not as he says, that he did nothing. He told him! It's painful. You throw him away. He's a valuable player, when he was there, Rangers won the championship.
Is it a coincidence? These are facts! I'm saying this now so they can hear it too. If this is how it's done there, well, anything is possible in Romania. If in England it has come to this... He still has one year left on his contract with Rangers, not two or three. The serious thing is that he came back and didn't go to train with the first team, where he broke his leg, where he stayed for a year and a half.
And before that, he became a champion, so he proved he's great. At 22, he was the best passer. Now he's not good anymore, because a director and a coach say so. If this happens with them, what can we say about us?" Gică Hagi stated.