Reported £17m AC Milan star shines with international goal after almost joining Rangers
28/03/2024 19:30
Tijjani Reijnders is a name that some Rangers fans will fail to recognise never mind struggle to pronounce.
Indeed, for some the 25-year-old Dutchman might not have flashed up on their footballing radar until Scotland were sent a friendly Euro 2024 reminder by the Netherlands during the break.
Helping to thrash Steve Clarke's side 4-0 – in a match where John Souttar got off the bench – Tijjani Reijnders certainly caught the eye in Amsterdam.
The 6ft midfielder also opened the scoring in the match, rasping in a long-range effort past Angus Gunn which you'll see about 2:36 into ViaPlay's highlights below. Apologies in advance for Michael Stewart.
But for those that are not so aware, Tijjani Reijnders might've ended up at Ibrox when Giovanni van Bronckhorst was in charge at Rangers – had it not been for Bert Konterman!
Bert Konterman, Tijjani Reijnders & Rangers
Tijjani Reijnders has brought his fine form with AC Milan onto the international stage but it was during the midfielder's time in the Netherlands that Rangers were firm suitors.
Back in September, Bert Konterman was out in the Dutch media – in an interview with local outlet NOS – claiming that Reijnders' father came to him for advice regarding interest from Rangers.
With the midfielder turning out for AZ Alkmaar, the ex-Ibrox midfielder told Tijjani to stay put and he'd soon earn an even bigger move.
It was good advice – the midfielder joined AC Milan in a £17m deal a year later – but Bert Konterman hardly done us a solid here…
"Rangers, my old club, wanted him [Reijnders]," said Konterman. "Martin [the player's father] asked me what was wise.
"I thought it was wiser to stay at AZ. Rangers are a big club, but he was not ready at AZ yet and maybe even bigger clubs would come in a year.
"Moreover, I thought he would fit better in Spanish or Italian football. Fortunately, that came true. It's a good thing he didn't go.
"His patience has definitely been rewarded. He had a fantastic year at AZ and now plays for AC Milan."
Dutch midfielder would've bucked Ibrox trend
Back in 2022 Ross Wilson told the Rangers AGM that one Dutch player was about to join the club but opted to move elsewhere during the reign of Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Whilst it remains unclear just how far down the line the Rangers interest in Tijjani Reijnders was, the midfielder appears to be one of several Dutch players linked at the time.
Some of the most bitter disappointments from the reign of Gio stem from the transfer market with the club also heavily linked to felllow Netherlands talents like Xavi Simons or Danilho Doekhi.
Had a deal for Tijjani Reijnders been signed, Rangers might still be sitting on one of European football's most burgeoning talents.
About to come into his prime, Rangers fans who watched Scotland's defeat to the Dutch would've noted the midfielder as one to watch at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.
It's just a shame we never got to see the AC Milan star in a Rangers jersey!
