'Will be moving to Europe': Agent hints at Rangers move for exciting attacker

07/05/2024 20:00

This was not the way the reported Rangers target would have wanted to bow out.

A 4-0 defeat on Saturday, reports suggest, is likely to be the Rangers-linked forward’s ‘last appearance’ for the club he joined as recently as last July.

Raphael Borges Rodrigues may still have a further 12 months on his deal at Australian outfit MacArthur FC. But with his agent confirming that a move to European football is potentially just a few weeks away for one of the brightest talents Down Under, that four-goal defeat by Sydney in the A-League Finals Series feels like an unfortunate way to say his goodbyes.

Agent hints at Rangers move for Raphael Borges Rodriguez

"There is definitely interest from clubs in England, Scotland and also in mainland Europe,” Raphael’s agent, Fahid Ben Khalfallah, tells FTBL.

Interestingly, the report adds that Ben Khalfallah recently returned to Australia from the UK, although FTBL do not confirm if that trip was made with transfer talks in mind.

"He's still contracted with Macarthur for next season and has a lot of respect for them. The way things stand, I imagine he's a player who will be moving to Europe in the near future,” the agent adds.

"I really like him and believe he's one of the best young talents in Australia, especially in terms of skill and mentality. He has big potential and what also makes a big difference is his work ethic and attitude off the field.”

Stil only 20, the Dutch-born Raphael is obviously a million miles away from the finished article. Ben Khalfallah, however, has few doubts about his client’s ability to make the step up in European football, the likes of Watford and Preston North End also credited with an interest.

"He's a top kid who has a great desire to succeed,” the agent adds. “And he quickly takes on board and absorbs information to help improve his game.

"He wants to go to Europe and succeed – he doesn't just want to go for the sake of making a move. He's not only a great kid, he’s going to have a good career.”

Abdallah Sima may be exiting Ibrox?

Capped by Australia at Under-23 level, Raphael has six goals and two assists this term. A right-footed wideman who likes to cut in from the left, Rangers’ alleged interest may be with the potential departures of Fabio Silva and Abdallah Sima in mind.

Unlike Oscar Cortes, whom Rangers have the option to sign permanently from Lens, there are no such agreements in the contracts of the Brighton and Wolves-owned forwards.

Raphael would obviously cost a lot less than either Silva or Sima – the former is reportedly valued at around £15 million by Wolverhampton Wanderers – and would be a continuation of the Philippe Clement-Nils Koppen approach to the transfer market.

One centred around youth and potential rather than more experienced talents who had fallen on hard times, a flawed spell of recruitment under Mick Beale throwing up as many misses as hits.

Of course, Raphael’s agent did not confirm if Rangers are interested. A move to Ibrox does appear more fitting than a switch to Celtic, however, with Brendan Rodgers’ Premiership leaders overloaded with talented widemen.

Rangers transfer ‘target’ Raphael Borges Rodrigues is a “decent talent” and is attracting interest from across the continent for a reason.

That’s the opinion of ex-Rangers defender, Craig Moore, who believes the 20-year-old has several attributes that would make him a solid summer acquisition.

Philippe Clement is gearing up for his first full season as Rangers manager and the talented winger is rumoured to be one of several wide-men on the Belgian’s wish-list. 

‘Very direct’

“I think he’s a very interesting player,” former Ranger and Australia defender Craig Moore told the Go Radio Football Show. “He’s had a very good season at Macarthur Bulls, and this is a player that has been flagged up in a lot of clubs data, their system in the UK. 

“He’s a player that I think could certainly play first team football in Scotland in particular. You’ve got Championship clubs down in England that are all sniffing about this player. Such is the talent that he’s showing.

“He’s a left-winger, a good size, very direct, Australian, Brazilian, and Dutch backgrounds all mixed in there. So, the boy is a decent talent.

I think Ross McCausland has had a fantastic season. He’s brought a lot of energy to Rangers. He’s a different type of player.

“This lad Rodrigues is a dribbler, he goes by people. Whereas McCausland isn’t really that type of player. So, a different type.”