The left-back position at Rangers is a funny one just now, and not in an amusing way either.
Borna Barisic is miles off his usually high standards and Calvin Bassey, for all his endeavour and attacking intent, is still making the odd error that leads to the opposition getting chances, they are both good players and yet they have question marks over their heads at the moment.
The recruitment department may have taken steps to solve this problem long-term though with the addition of Romanian youth international Kevin Ciubotaru, born in Italy and with a nomadic football development, the 18-year old is set to be announced as the academy’s latest recruit.
For all that any deal hasn’t yet been confirmed, the youngster has been speaking about what made him choose Glasgow and the other opportunities that he had before agreeing on a move to Rangers, as reported by The Daily Record:
“I had trials and training at Chelsea, Spurs, West Ham, Watford, Southampton, Brentford.
“I first went to Chelsea in 2019 and it opened my eyes to British football, but I did not feel ready for it yet. I also went to Barnet for a spell because Edgar Davids was the manager there.
“They wanted to sign me, while Sheffield United and Leicester City offered to sign me up for their Academies.
“The interest from Rangers was unusual because they were looking at videos of one of my colleagues and spotted me instead. They wanted more details and within a week they sent me a plane ticket and I flew to Glasgow.
“Rangers are an extraordinary club, with a superb training base, impeccable conditions and a special section dedicated to their own academy
“I just want to make the most of this incredible opportunity in my career.
“I met Ianis Hagi and we spoke a little. He’s a very humble man, I can’t wait to train and play with him in the first team next season hopefully. I’m sorry he got hurt pretty badly, I understand he’ll need a few good months to recover.”
Ciubotaru is part of the same Kinetic Academy that helped to hone Joe Aribo’s skills, and it may be that their reputation for developing players who after comfortable on the ball and technically sound has led us back to assess the talents that they currently have.
That so many top clubs have had a look at Ciubotaru shows that he must have something exciting to offer, at the same age, Nathan Patterson was starting to make inroads in to the first-team squad so, you never know, Bassey and Barisic might soon be looking over their shoulders.