RANGERS fans have had little to smile about amid their team’s ongoing dire form and bungled search for a new manager.
So, seeing one of their former heroes tearing it up at his new club probably isn’t high on their list of things they want to see right now.
But that’s exactly what’s happening with regards to Hamza Igamane.
The 22-year old Moroccan joined French outfit Lille in the summer in a £10million deal.
He’d been at Rangers for just the one season having been snapped up for just £1.7m from AS FAR in his homeland.
Igamane departed amid controversy with the striker having REFUSED to come on as a sub during the Gers’ clash at St Mirren.
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Many Light Blues fans were gutted to see Igamane move on so soon with his ability clear for all to see, even if he was still a little raw at times.
He netted 16 goals in all competitions in his only campaign at Ibrox.
Igamane has enjoyed a strong start to life at his new club.
His impressive new beginning comes as Rangers’ own new strikers continue to struggle.
Bojan Miovski laboured in the 2-2 draw at Dundee United on Saturday while £8million recruit Youssef Chermiti was once again a substitute.
The signing of Chermiti, 21, raised eyebrows given he arrived for the biggest transfer outlay Rangers have made in more than two decades, with the deal potentially reaching £10m.
He was signed for the bumper fee despite failing to score a single goal in two years.
Chermiti has now gone seven games for Rangers without a goal, although only two of those appearances have come from the start.
And with Igamane lighting it up in France last night, many frustrated Light Blues fans couldn’t help drawing comparisons between the two players.
Igamane came on as a substitute for ex-Arsenal and Chelsea star Olivier Giroud in Lille’s 2-0 win over Nantes last night.
He sealed the victory in sublime style by scoring his side’s second goal in the final minute of normal time.
The goal has caught the attention too, with the official Ligue 1 X account labelling Igamane ‘the Moroccan R9,’ a comparison to the legendary Brazil striker Ronaldo.
The sublime effort saw Igamen brilliantly trap the ball with his left foot, evade a challenge from a midfielder, nutmeg another opponent before taking two other defenders out of the game and firing the ball into the net.
It was the sort of skill and excellent footwork that Rangers fans would’ve wished they’d have been able to see at Ibrox for a longer spell.
French fans were all over the Ronaldo comparisons too with several photoshopping Igamane into images featuring the former striker’s iconic hairstyle from the 2002 World Cup.
One fan replied: “He is him.”
Several Rangers fans commented on the goal on X and many chose to focus on Chermiti’s performances in comparison.
One blasted: “Meanwhile we bought Chermiti who can’t finish his dinner.”
A second said: “This is what an £8m striker should produce. Not… whatever that was yesterday.”
A third posted: “While we are stuck with an £8m striker who can’t finish.”
A fourth commented: “Same price as Chermiti.”
Another accused Rangers of “fumbling this generational talent.”
While a further Gers fan blasted: “Downgrade after downgrade.”
“Sold Igamane at his time he’s ready to be a top player.” (Chermiti raw)
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“Streets ahead.”
Summing up the feelings of many, another said: “This makes my physically sick.”
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