The transfer policy of any professional football club is one of the key factors of a successful game. The 2023 / 2024 season was not very successful for Rangers. Problems with the coaching staff, the termination of the fight for the championship a few rounds before the end of the Scottish Championship, and injuries to several key players before important matches — all this served as a reason to take drastic measures. Therefore, the management paid increased attention to winter transfers. One of the main tasks set for the transfer window was to find a worthy replacement for Ridvan Yilmaz, who plans to leave Ibrox.

A bit of backstory

Turkish national team left-back Rıdvan Yılmaz moved to Rangers from Besiktas in 2022. He was a great help to the club, who were in dire need of strengthening their defence. Yılmaz spent some time in a supporting role, replacing the more experienced defender Borna Barisic. However, injuries and not very successful matches of the Croatian became for the young Turkish footballer “lucky spin” in an online casino. Rıdvan began to often come on the field from the first minutes, and soon Philippe Clement made him the main left-back of Rangers.

It should be emphasized that the rapid success of the Turkish defender is not just a coincidence. If playing slots or betting in roulette at kasyno online automaty, players rely primarily on fortune, then in this case, the situation is completely different. The Besiktas pupil has earned a major place in the Rangers squad through hard work, expressed in daily training and improving his skills.

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At a time when many of his peers were partying in clubs and older acquaintances were spending long hours playing slot machines or betting at bookmakers, 16-year-old Yılmaz was already making strides at Turkey U16. So, by the 2023 / 2024 season, Rangers fans couldn’t imagine the Ibrox Dream Team without this player.

More skills, more ambition

Rıdvan Yılmaz’s successful game at Ibrox ironically became a sort of losing lottery ticket for Rangers. The fact is that the Turkish left-back has decided to move to another, more titled European club. According to preliminary data, it is about Galatasaray, although among the contenders was also Hellas Verona. The reason for this move is in no way related to Rangers’ internal problems. The decision on the transfer was made after negotiations between the Turkish defender and Vincenzo Montella. According to a source, the Italian coach of the Turkish national team promises Yılmaz a place in the squad for Euro 2024 if he has more game practice in elite clubs.

We must pay tribute to the Scottish club’s management, who have been sympathetic to the young defender’s desire to develop further. Rangers transfer managers have been actively searching for a replacement, although the final  choice, which was 20-year-old Brazilian Jefte, who plays for Fluminense but is currently on loan from Cypriot APOEL, didn’t in the end transpire. Philippe Clement believed that the Brazilian left-back would have been a worthy replacement for Yılmaz, who has done a lot for the Scottish club.  Maybe the Club will re-visit this in the summer transfer window.

Successful choice

With the transfer window about to close, the Rangers managers have made a very good choice. Like a bookmaker’s bet to win when playing absolutely equal clubs, they have very correctly chosen 20-year-old Jefte among several equal candidates. The fact is that it is with this player it will be easiest to finalize all the legal formalities. Although the term of the Brazilian’s lease in the Cypriot APOEL has not yet expired, the early transfer of this player to the Scottish club is almost a settled issue.

The management of the club from Limassol is forced to agree to the transfer of the player, whom the coaches of APOEL hoped to buy from Fluminense. The club has the necessary amount for this. However, trouble came from where it was not expected. The Cypriot club was among the 11 teams on which FIFA imposed a transfer embargo. In other words, this club cannot buy new players until all debts are paid.

Thus, Rangers managed to “draw a lucky lottery ticket”. And it turned out to be lucky not only for the Scottish club but also for Turkish international Rıdvan Yılmaz. Now, with the transfer of Jefte, Rıdvan Yılmaz will not have any problems in connection with the early departure.

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