Michael Beale’s plans for the coming 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign are well underway, and the Rangers first team squad now know that as we progress through the pre season build up, we will soon either meet Genk or Servette in our third round Champions League qualifying campaign.
Beale will be determined to make up for last season’s incredibly disappointing showings against Napoli, Liverpool and Ajax, and this years tournament should definitely see the players determined to make up for our unwanted worst goal difference record and key to us doing just that could be our chase of Brazilian and Feyenoord attacker, Danilo.
Having initially seen a £3.5 million offer rejected by the Eredivisie champions, it is now being reported that we have gone back with a £5 million offer for the 24 year old and that this has now been accepted. It is understood however, that he will not fly in to Glasgow, finalise his new deal and undergo the necessary medical until Monday next week so for those who like a flutter the highest football betting odds for this weekends matches will not be influenced by his apparent capture.
Reports in the Netherlands suggest that the player has provisionally agreed to a five year deal, keeping him with us until the summer of 2028, and presumably a reason for part of the delay in completing the deal here is simply down to the fact that the one capped Brazil Under 23 player, is actually in the middle of going through the process to change his nationality.
Rangers may well not be signing a future Brazilian star, we in fact could well be picking up a future Netherlands star. The Sao Paulo born player moved to Ajax back in 2017 before making his breakthrough in subsequent seasons, and he recently revealed.
“I’ve lived in the Netherlands since I was 18 and I have applied for my Dutch nationality. Hopefully, that will lead to an opportunity to play for the Dutch national team. Why not? If they call me up I will definitely consider it. I’m not saying this because I think it’s easier for me. Just like Brazil, the Netherlands has many good players. I am a Brazilian, but I also feel Dutch in the meantime. My children will be half Dutch and half Brazilian, which is the way I feel too.”
Should his transfer now go through as anticipated, he clearly leaves the Netherlands and Feyenoord with fond memories, particularly in light of their efforts when officially announcing his capture from Ajax.
“I saw the city from above and thought: it looks quite like my home city of Sao Paulo. Then we flew to the stadium and I saw the fans from above, that really gave me butterflies in my stomach. Just like when I came out of the helicopter and walked onto the pitch. I will carry this with me for the rest of my life. It was very special and unique, I will tell my children about this one day.”
