Latest news with #NicoRaskin
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers star Nico Raskin ‘wanted by European giants as replacement for Euros winner'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS are desperate to keep Nico Raskin beyond this summer after a standout campaign at Ibrox last season. But Russell Martin may face a fight to hold onto the star midfielder as he's reportedly a transfer target for a Europa League club this window. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 A European club are looking at a potential deal for Nico Raskin Credit: Willie Vass 2 Rangers are desperate to keep the midfielder Credit: Willie Vass Raskin, 24, has two years left on his Rangers deal but SunSport understands the club are set to offer him a bumper new contract. We told you last month how the Light Blues were preparing to fend off interest with fresh terms for the midfielder who recently broke his way into the Belgium squad. Gers boss Martin wants to build his team around the midfield dynamo and contract discussions are on the agenda. But they may need to act fast to tie him down as Spanish giants Real Betis have reportedly joined the race for him this week. Spanish outlet Mucho Deporte claim the four-cap Belgian ace is one player Manuel Pellegrini is looking at as a replacement for outgoing midfielders Johnny Cardoso and William Carvalho. The pair helped Betis reach the Uefa Conference League final last season, where they were beaten by Chelsea. Cardoso, 23, has since sealed a big-money move to rivals Atletico Madrid, while the report suggests club icon Carvalho is also on his way out. Carvalho has been at the club since 2018 and has enjoyed great success with his national team Portugal - winning the 2016 Euros and 2018/19 Nations League. Pellegrini will be left with two massive voids to fill ahead of next season and is already weighing up moves for a replacement - or two. And it's stated that Raskin has caught the Italian's eyes. 'Absolutely brilliant or RUBBISH' - Gassama Rangers transfer verdict and Souttar to leave Rangers spent around £1.75million to sign Raskin from Standard Liege in January 2023 and his value is soaring. The Ibrox club are in line to bank a huge profit on the midfielder should he depart in the coming weeks. But sporting director Kevin Thelwell and the club's new US owners are determined to tie him down on a longer deal to protect their asset. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Rangers 4 Dunfermline 1: Danilo stars in friendly win
This performance may boost his chances to lead the attack in the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos. Rangers will face the Greek side at Ibrox on July 25, with the return leg in Greece the following week. Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane were not in the squad for the friendly as they are working on their individual training programmes to regain full fitness. Danilo, who joined Rangers for £6 million two seasons ago but has struggled with injury, took full advantage of his chance in the friendly. Read more: Kieran Dowell, Thelo Aasgaard, and Nico Raskin also scored in the game. The starting eleven from the friendly might give an idea of manager Russell Martin's plans for the game against Panathinaikos. Jack Butland was in goal, with James Tavernier, John Souttar, Nasser Djiga, and Max Aarons making up the back four. Joe Rothwell played in midfield alongside Nico Raskin and Mo Diomande, while Danilo led the attack with support from Dowell and Aasgaard.
The National
4 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Danilo crushes Rangers audition and takes hand in four friendly goals
The Brazilian striker led Rangers to a 4-1 victory over Dunfermline that was off limits to the public. This performance strengthens Danilo's case to lead Rangers' attack in their upcoming Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos. Rangers will face them at Ibrox on Tuesday, July 25, with the return leg in Greece the following week. The game also saw the absence of Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, both of whom are regaining full fitness with individualised training programmes. Read more: Danilo, who joined Rangers for £6m two seasons ago but has struggled with injury, capitalised on his opportunity. In addition to his strike and three assists, Kieran Dowell, Thelo Aasgaard, and Nico Raskin also found the back of the net. The starting XI from the friendly might hint at manager Russell Martin's strategy for the game against Panathinaikos. Jack Butland was in goal, with a back four of James Tavernier, John Souttar, Nasser Djiga, and Max Aarons. Joe Rothwell played in midfield alongside Nico Raskin and Mo Diomande, while Danilo spearheaded the attack with support from Dowell and Aasgaard. The result against Dunfermline, managed by former Celtic legend Neil Lennon, marked Rangers' first pre-season win following draws with Club Brugge and Barnsley.
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Danilo crushes Rangers audition and takes hand in four friendly goals
This performance strengthens Danilo's case to lead Rangers' attack in their upcoming Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos. Rangers will face them at Ibrox on Tuesday, July 25, with the return leg in Greece the following week. The game also saw the absence of Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, both of whom are regaining full fitness with individualised training programmes. Read more: Danilo, who joined Rangers for £6m two seasons ago but has struggled with injury, capitalised on his opportunity. In addition to his strike and three assists, Kieran Dowell, Thelo Aasgaard, and Nico Raskin also found the back of the net. The starting XI from the friendly might hint at manager Russell Martin's strategy for the game against Panathinaikos. Jack Butland was in goal, with a back four of James Tavernier, John Souttar, Nasser Djiga, and Max Aarons. Joe Rothwell played in midfield alongside Nico Raskin and Mo Diomande, while Danilo spearheaded the attack with support from Dowell and Aasgaard. The result against Dunfermline, managed by former Celtic legend Neil Lennon, marked Rangers' first pre-season win following draws with Club Brugge and Barnsley.
Scottish Sun
24-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Rangers got ‘global gravitas' from takeover says Marathe as he's quizzed on whether they need to sell big-money player
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PARAAG MARATHE believes the multi-million pound Ibrox takeover will bring global gravitas to Rangers. The club's new vice-chairman has hailed the Light Blues as a 'gem' of European football. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 5 Rangers vice chairman Paraag Marathe on day of Rangers EGM Credit: PA 5 Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh with Marathe Credit: PA But with the backing of the 49ers Enterprises, he reckons they're now ready for the world stage. Marathe said 'It is pretty objectively true that the San Francisco 49ers are one of the biggest sports brands in the world. Certainly one of the most recognisable. 'Rangers is a gem of European football. 'What the 49ers can bring is a certain global gravitas and awareness to Rangers. 'Now, take the States or other places where the 49ers are top of mind, now all of a sudden Rangers are in that same sentence. 'Why does that matter? 'It matters when we are out with commercial partners who care about how many times they are going to be mentioned, how many times their name will come up. That has monetary value. 'It has helped us with Leeds. In terms of one not being subordinate to the other, selfishly speaking it actually helps the 49ers too. 'Bringing it more into the conversation globally and bringing that awareness, I know from my experience at Leeds and I am already seeing some of the early returns. 'It matters to players that we are out recruiting - 'Oh wait a second, the 49ers are involved in this'. FOUR to join Rangers before Champions League Plus Aarons impact on Tavernier REVEALED 'This must mean that there is a certain extra gravitas that comes to it that helps us in the recruitment of players.' As well as trying to attract new recruits, Marathe insisted last night Gers DON'T need to sell. Hamza Igamane, Nico Raskin and Cyriel Dessers are just three players heavily linked with big money moves this summer. Marathe has made it clear the final decision on transfers in and out rests with sporting director Kevin Thelwell and manager Russell Martin. On potential bids for Raskin and Igamane, Marathe added: 'That is the first test of our discipline to our philosophy. 'Fortunately, we have hired Kev and hired Russell who will speak to the specifics of the football decisions we need to make. 5 Gers are hoping to hold onto star man Nico Raskin Credit: Alamy 'The resources are in place to allow us to make the best decisions for the club without being forced to make a decision because of club economics or finances. 'We don't want to speak about any specific players but we have the ability to do what we need to do to be successful this season.' Gers' new owners are already considering expanding the Ibrox capacity. And Marathe admits all commercial possibilities must be explored if the Light Blues are to maximise their potential. He revealed: 'One of my core beliefs and what Andrew and I have talked about is that the world is becoming a smaller place. 'It is so much easier to consume Rangers football, to consume the Premiership, because it is easier to watch through streaming or whatever. 'Football is borderless. It is the world's great game. 'It is one of the reasons why we wanted to be involved here, it doesn't have a border and we are one of the biggest clubs in the world with 600 supporter clubs and millions of fans around the world. 'The more people that consume the brand, consume the sport, consume the matches, the better for us. It is really borderless.' For a quarter of a century, he's served at the frontline of the San Francisco 49ers. A major player in the franchise and a highly-respected figure in the NFL. What next for Rangers after American takeover is confirmed? But Marathe insisted nothing could prepare him for the intensity of life at Rangers. The club's new vice-chairman admits it's 'next level' in Glasgow after he and chairman Andrew Cavenagh addressed shareholders for the first time at Monday's egm. Despite 25 years at the sharp end of 49ers operations, Marathe reckons the challenges facing the new Ibrox owners are something entirely different. But after delivering success for Leeds United, the all-American regime is confident they can do the same at Gers. Marathe said: 'What I have learned is the jeopardy and what is at stake with every single match and every single minute. 'European football is a pressure cooker like no other. 'I thought the NFL was intense because we have 17 games. 'It is next level here. 'You really have to be able to see the forest through the trees and not just make rash, emotional decisions, whether it is on a player, on a manager, on anything, just because something didn't go your way. 'It is going to sound simple and basic, but it is the discipline to stay true to these things that matters. 'First, if we are doing a good job, you are not going to hear from us much. 5 'If we are doing a good job then we will let our actions speak for themselves and we will speak when we have something to say. 'But if we are successful at what we are doing then that means we have hired the right team, we have empowered them to make decisions and not be afraid to make challenging decisions and not be afraid of where the idea comes from, however high or however low, inside or outside the club, the best idea comes from. 'We have given that team the right resources to be able to succeed and then we have held that team unaccountable. That is pretty simple and basic. 'It is the philosophy that I applied at the 49ers, that I apply at Leeds now as well.' Marathe is president of the 49ers Enterprises, the business wing of the NFL giants. He's also chairman at Elland Road. Given 49ers Enterprises own Leeds outright, there were initial fears among some Gers fans that their club would become a feeder side to the team newly promoted to the Premiership. Marathe insists that won't be the case. He stressed: 'It would be a disservice to Leeds and Rangers to consider one a feeder club to the other. 'Consider them both closed-loop universes that deserve proper attention and nurture and care - we will designate and assign resources approximately. 'But look, there are opportunities to learn from each other, whether it's commercially or competitively on the pitch. 'I mean, it could just be simple things. Rangers fans react as 49ers takeover completed 'If there's a plumbing issue and we go through certain plumbers who are terrible and certain ones who are good, if Elland Road had a plumbing issue, we're certain to want to call and figure out who the best plumber is." 'You can apply that analogy to an agent, so there's lots that you can share. Me being able to sit across both means I can help navigate those too. 'In my mind it's a real positive to have two clubs like that but there's not one that is subordinate to the other. That would be a disservice. 'With regards to UEFA, we have checked the box with those that we need to to make sure that if and when there is ever even a situation when there is a perception of a conflict, we would solve that. 'That has already been solved, so we're good there.' After helping secure promotion for Leeds, Marathe is now turning his attention to delivering silverware success at Ibrox. With the club's new management team in place and the promise of new signings to come, the 47-year-old is confident they can collectively restore Rangers to its former glory. He said: 'The short, medium and long term goal is to win. It's to win the league, it's to win cups, it's all of the above. 'Do we think we have what we need to win? Absolutely. We wouldn't be here if we didn't. 'We definitely have big belief in Kevin Thelwell and Russell Martin to lead the football side. 'This is about building the right foundation and about doing it intelligently and thoughtfully, not just throwing money at it. 'Throwing money might solve something short term, but this is about trying to build something that will last, and outlast our tenures with the club and keep Rangers on the great trajectory it deserves to be on.' 5 To bring success Marathe knows Gers must end Celtic's domestic dominance. A new Ibrox era was formally ushered in on Monday with Cavenagh and Co ploughing an immediate £20million into the coffers. But the new owners insist patience will be required. Marathe said: 'We're not trying to benchmark ourselves against that other club. We are trying to be as successful as we can be. 'That is a self-evaluation. What that means if we end up winning a title, then we end up succeeding. 'But we are not trying to compare ourselves or contrast ourselves to other clubs, we are trying to be as good as we can be. 'That means trying to stay disciplined and focus on the process. 'The results will matter. I'm not saying they are irrelevant, but if you focus more on the process then chances are you're going to be right more than you're wrong. 'What's different is that here, there's not many clubs in the world where you have the hope and the expectation of being able to win the league, play in Europe and to win cups. 'Every year we get to have that hope and expectation. 'I hate losing and I want to win. I will do whatever I need to do to keep me on the winning side of the ledger at any club. That is all I care about.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
