It’s fair to say that it didn’t go to plan for Rangers or Fabio Silva in the second half of the season.
As the Gers set their sight on quadruple success – yes, there was a brief moment we all believed – the Portuguese forward was signed to enhance our trophy push.
But as Rangers collapsed in a disastrous final third of the season, Fabio Silva took substantial flak for a perceived lack of matchwinning contributions amid the pressure of the run-in.
With Celtic’s loan striker singing Adam Idah firing our Old Firm rivals to title and Scottish Cup glory, you’ve got to say the signing is a black mark on the early tenure of Nils Koppen.
But amid all the criticism and the headlines, there’s a young 21-year-old striker in Fabio Silva who is still finding his way in the game.
And now the £35m Wolves loanee has claimed that his stint in Glasgow has ‘made him a man’ and dropped the biggest hint yet an exit from Molineux beckons.
Silva: Rangers move made me a man
After removing Rangers from his Instagram biography and changing his profile picture earlier in the week, Fabio Silva released a statement on the social media platform.
In a lengthy message, the Portuguese insists that the challenges he has faced over the last few years of his career have made him stronger.
Thanking both Rangers and Wolves, the message appears to hint that his future lies away from both clubs next season.
“Life will knock us down but we can choose whether or not to get back up,” said Silva. “Life is made up of good and bad moments. Of ups and downs.
“This season I gained much more than I lost.
“I lived in new stadiums, new environments and in a different city.
“It was a year of learning and a year that made me a man.
“I learned that the important thing is to never give up and that I must mature every day so that the result is consistent.
“Thank you to everyone.
“To my parents, my brothers, family, friends and my agent. To Wolverhampton and Rangers.
“The important thing is to be desired and happy.
“And with them, I can do anything.
“Trust the process always.”
The message elicited a response from Rangers teammate Danilo, who offered some words of encouragement.
Danilo said “você é diferente irmão, pra cima”, which translates to “you’re different bro, up”.
Best years ahead for Rangers loanee
Whilst we wish Fabio Silva all the best in his future career, there’s no getting away from the disappointment of the forward’s loan move.
Rangers’ abysmal injury record might’ve forced the forward out wide, but fans were told the Portuguese was supposed to fill the goalscoring void at Ibrox.
With Rangers fans wanting a proper number 9 signed in January to fire the club to the title, we really missed the returns of an instinctive striker of which Fabio Silva is certainly not.
There were some big moments in a Rangers jersey – the assist for Dujon Sterling v Benfica and penalty win v Celtic amongst them – but it was not enough for the club in the end.
As disappointing as the season wound up, Fabio Silva gave his best for the club and you’ve got to say once a Ranger always a Ranger to the forward.
Where next?
Well the best years of the much-hyped striker’s career are certainly in front of him and there have been links to Italy and Spain this summer.
