Hamza Igamane sends Rangers brutal reminder as instant Lille change follows Russell Martin decision
The Moroccan has got off to a positive start in France since leaving Ibrox behind last summer
(Image: AP)
Lille boss Bruno Genesio has hailed the impact of Hamza Igamane as he revealed the unseen changes the striker has made since leaving Ibrox.
The Moroccan got his wish to leave Glasgow in the summer after his public fallout with Russell Martin led the club to accept a £10.4m bid from Lille.
The striker refused to come on during the draw with St Mirren – and was given a curt sendoff at Ibrox with just two sentences in his farewell statement, after medical checks, it was found there was no knock.
Since the move, the 22-year-old has mainly been utilised as an understudy for World Cup winner Olivier Giroud – but has ” great potential” according to his boss.
On his Lille debut he netted a double in the 7-1 win over Lorient – and has netted three goals in his last two games for the French giants in the win over Nantes and the Europa League defeat to PAOK.
And Genesio has reminded Rangers of the player they are missing after the decision to green light an exit: “For now, I see him more as a centre forward. He’s an unpredictable player in the last 30 meters.
“We saw that in the goal he scored in Nantes. He has a favourable counterattack, but he goes for it because he has the conviction that he will succeed.
“He’s a player who still has a lot of freshness, who is capable of scoring improbable goals in incredible situations.
Rangers’ Hamza Igamane (Image: SNS Group)
“These are important qualities for a striker and has very big potential. Having him as close as possible to the goal is better for us.”
Genesio also claimed that the 22-year-old frontman has had to improve his fitness levels after leaving the Scottish Premiership behind.
He added: “He has made a lot of effort in athletic work since he arrived with us. That’s also why he is getting better and better.
“I really liked his arrival at Nantes in his association with his partners and his movements, which were much more accurate .
“He needs to maintain this kind of carefree and fresh attitude and continue to improve in the structure of his game with the ball and in his movements without the ball. He’s learning quite quickly, which bodes well.”
Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
We’re also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here.
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
