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IANIS HAGI has revealed he’ll have a life-long debt to Rangers skipper James Tavernier for his support while his career was in summer limbo.

The Romanian ace had no idea what the future held for him after returning to Ibrox from a year’s loan with Spanish side Alaves – and straight into a contract stalemate which left him frozen out under Philippe Clement.

Ianis Hagi is fighting for his Rangers future after a spell in the wilderness
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Ianis Hagi is fighting for his Rangers future after a spell in the wildernessCredit: Willie Vass
Philippe Clement froze the Romanian out but he's now back in the team and forced the winner in Sunday's victory over St Johnstone
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Philippe Clement froze the Romanian out but he's now back in the team and forced the winner in Sunday's victory over St JohnstoneCredit: Willie Vass
Hagi has praised captain James Tavernier for standing by him during his spell out of the first team picture at Ibrox
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Hagi has praised captain James Tavernier for standing by him during his spell out of the first team picture at IbroxCredit: Willie Vass

At one point Clement – who inherited the attacker’s specific terms of agreement issue – even advised him and his agent to look 'for other opportunities.'

Talk back then was Hagi was due a substantial financial reward if he played one more game for the Gers.

But at the start of October it was announced the matter had been resolved – and the 26-year-old was back in the first team fold.

Tavernier was a rock for Hagi behind the scenes, as was his father and legendary former football hero Gheorghe.

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The £3.1 million signing from Genk in 2020 made his first Light Blues start in 18 months against St Johnstone on Sunday and provided the assist for the winner.

Hagi refused to go into specifics over the previous contract problem – but he opened up on Tavernier, his dad and the inspiration he took from the club’s B-team prospects.

He said: "A big shout-out to Tav, to the skip.

"Obviously people know him on the pitch and what he does and being a skipper for the last few years of Rangers and everything he does, and his stats are just MAD for a full-back.

"But then he helped me a lot and behind the scenes he does a lot for this football club. 

"I have to thank him for being there and being a captain.

James Tavernier on his chances of earning a Rangers testimonial BR

"And I will never forget what he did for me during the summer and helping me in situations where it's not about a player-to-player relationship, it's more about a man-to-man relationship.

"He's a great skipper and people will obviously see what he does on the pitch - but there's so much more behind the scenes that goes around with him."

On his superstar father, Hagi said: "With so much experience that he has in football, he definitely helped me and not only him, but the family as well, people at the club."

Hagi – who was also out for a year with a cruciate ligament injury – insisted he 'loves' Rangers and that all he’s interested in now is winning.

He’s under contract until May 2026, and wouldn’t look beyond that.

Hagi confessed he could’ve left during the last transfer window – but now he’s simply desperate to majorly contribute, with a Premier Sports Cup final against Celtic on December 15.

He said: "It’s just a nice feeling pulling on the shirt again, having competition again. 

"I just love every second of it.

"I've been around professional football for a while now, even though I'm 26, I think I'm in my 10th season right now as a professional. 

"I know in football everything changes quite quick, from good to bad and from bad to good.

"I was just trying to control my environment, what I can do and be prepared for the next day, and whatever the next day would have been, I was ready. 

"It's tough when you don't play football, and I've been in worse situations than this one with my injury, being away for a year and not being able to play. 

Romanian midfielder and captain Gheorghe Hagi jubilates after teammate Florin Valeriu Raducioiu scored a goal against Colombia during their World Cup first round soccer match on June 18, 1994 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Romania won 3-1. AFP PHOTO/GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
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Ianis is the son of legendary former Romania midfielder Gheorghe Hagi, who he credits with helping him deal with being out of the Rangers teamCredit: GETTY IMAGES
31.03.2023 Rangers training: James Tavernier and Ianis Hagi
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He lauded Tavernier for his work as a captain and team-mate

"Now I was able to train and play with the B team, and shout out to them because they've been unbelievable with me for two or three months. 

"Just everything I needed to be ready and prepared physically to perform, they were open to it. 

"I have to thank them, I have to thank the coaches, the kids.

"They're so talented, they have so much hunger to perform. 

"And I've tried to help as much as I could with my experience and talking to them every now and then."

On his relationship with Clement, Hagi said: "We had a couple of discussions over the summer and basically that was it. 

"I knew the situation from the first day I stepped in the training ground, and after that, I just took it day by day and saw where that brought me. 

"I obviously made my point clear what I see my future and where I see my future

"So there were conversations, and then it got at a certain point where we both wanted to win.

"Right now, I'm just happy that I can help the team.

"Obviously, you're in the transfer market, anything can happen at that point. 

"So things were up in the air, no one can deny that and everybody knows that.

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"But what I made it clear is that wherever I am, I'm going to be 100% for the B team, first team, or somewhere else. 

"In football everything changes every 24 hours, it's just crazy how the dynamics change in football. 

"So even though I was with the B team, I think as a person, as a player, and probably as a future coach, I made some progress.

"The only clarity is that Rangers wants to win and the people that are running the club right now with the gaffer, obviously he wants to win and I want to win. 

"I know, you know, what I can bring to the table.

"I've shown it in the past for this football club, and I'm just happy that right now I'm back in the mix, and I can do that. 

"I love the club, pure and simple.

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"I'm really strong mentally, I really understand football, on the pitch, off the pitch. 

"I feel like right now any challenge that comes in front of me, I can deal with it."

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