NafisaFormer Newcastle United player, Philippe Albert has delivered a brutal verdict on Nicolas Raskin’s Rangers future, insisting the Belgian midfielder is “wasting his time” at Ibrox and questioning why no Premier League club stepped forward for him during the summer transfer window.
The former Belgian international believes Raskin is operating well below the level his ability deserves, despite becoming one of Rangers’ most important players.
His comments come after a dramatic few days in which Raskin’s future appeared to be heading towards a major change.
The midfielder had attracted strong interest from Turkey, with Besiktas pushing to take him away from Glasgow. There was growing confidence that the move could be completed, but the situation changed rapidly when Rangers sought alterations to the original terms.
Raskin subsequently abandoned the proposed transfer after featuring for Rangers on Wednesday evening, leaving him seemingly set to remain at Ibrox until at least January.
That outcome has left Albert questioning whether the 25-year-old is getting the career progression his performances deserve.
Rangers exit blocked
Raskin had appeared destined to leave Rangers during the final stages of the Turkish transfer window, with Besiktas pushing hard to secure his signature.
The Belgian midfielder was reportedly keen on the opportunity after being convinced by international teammate Leandro Trossard, and the situation appeared to be moving towards an agreement.
However, that momentum disappeared when Rangers demanded changes to the terms of the proposed deal.
With negotiations no longer progressing in the direction initially expected, Raskin went on to play for Rangers on Wednesday evening and his proposed move ultimately collapsed.
Albert, speaking to Le Soir, was clearly frustrated by the situation and believes Scotland is no longer the right environment for a player of Raskin’s quality.
“Nicolas Raskin doesn’t belong in Scotland,” he said.
“In recent years, he has proven he is a cut above the rest. He’s Rangers’ best player. It’s a club with a rich history but one that is currently adrift, winning few trophies and, what’s more, already eliminated from European competition.
“I respect the Scottish league, but a guy like Raskin is wasting his time there. As for not getting a transfer? I don’t understand why no Premier League club made a move.”
Albert’s argument is particularly interesting given the level of responsibility Raskin has taken on at Rangers.
The midfielder has developed into an important figure at Ibrox and remains one of the players McInnes can rely on to bring experience, energy and quality into the middle of the pitch.
Yet Albert believes those qualities should have attracted greater attention from clubs in England.
Besiktas would have been interesting:
While the former Belgium international cannot understand why Premier League clubs did not make a move, he also believes Besiktas would have represented an intriguing destination for Raskin.
The Turkish giants would have offered the midfielder the chance to compete in a league Albert considers stronger than the Scottish Premiership, as well as European football.
“It would have been interesting, because the standard there is higher than in Scotland,” he added.
“There are great rivalries, and Beşiktaş plays in the Europa League – which is, after all, a great showcase…”
For Raskin, however, the immediate reality is rather different.
His proposed departure now appears to be off the table until at least the January transfer window, meaning he is likely to continue his season with Rangers despite the recent uncertainty surrounding his future.
Albert does not believe the failed transfer should derail the midfielder mentally.
Instead, he expects Raskin to respond in the same manner he has shown throughout his career — by continuing to perform whenever he is selected.
“I don’t think it will affect him mentally; he has the right mindset to bounce back—as he showed at Standard – and he always performs well on the pitch,” he concluded.
“I’m not worried about him, though he’ll obviously have to grit his teeth and push through. If he wants to keep his spot with the Red Devils, he needs to play and get match fitness. In any case, I hope his situation gets sorted out and he can find a solution.”
That final point could be particularly important for Raskin.
With Belgium’s international picture in mind, regular football will remain crucial if he wants to maintain his place in the national team. The midfielder now has little choice but to put the transfer drama behind him and concentrate on producing consistently for Rangers.
Whether that eventually leads to another opportunity in January remains to be seen.
For now, though, Albert’s comments underline the growing debate around Raskin’s future — and whether Rangers can continue to provide the level of competition and ambition required for one of their standout performers.
Nafisa
