‘Meteorite’ feels, in some ways, like a fitting description of the Rangers man.
Blessed with explosive pace, rockets in his boots and a shot capable of knocking the moon out of the night sky, the £4 million-rated forward is a breezy blur at full flow. A flaming streak of raw energy and power.
Unfortunately for Oscar Cortes, the ‘meteorite’ description put forward by the French press is less a compliment about his playing style and instead a reference to his blink-and-you-miss-it career at RC Lens.
Signed in July and then loaned out in January. Four Ligue 1 appearances and only the one top-flight goal. Like a shooting star, the Colombian international was here one second and gone the next, Rangers extending Cortes’ stay at Ibrox until the summer of 2025 this week.
Oscar Cortes returns to Rangers from RC Lens
Given the excitement that followed Cortes’ arrival, and the lack of opportunities afforded to him by a less-than-convinced head coach Franck Haise, the Lens-focused Le11 website understandably felt that they could not rate the 20-year-old’s time at the Stade Bollaert Delelis anything higher than a miserly ‘2/10’.
“While Franck Haise was not really convinced by his profile even before his arrival, Oscar Cortes did not really have the opportunity to show himself,” Le11 write, running the rule over a number of disappointing signings made by a club who finished one point off Paris Saint-Germain last year but fell to seventh this.
“Having very limited playing time, he did not even start a single match, which explains his (low rating).”
Le11 confirm that Cortes, who has an obligation-to-buy clause in his new Rangers contract, will join the Scottish Premiership giants for a fee in excess of £4 million in 2025.
A £4 million windfall would at least go some way to easing Lens’ financial concerns. President Joseph Oughourlian admitted this week that the perennial overachievers are under pressure to raise around £100 million via player sales.
£4 million down – well, eventually – only £96 million to go…
“On Cortes, I was told that he was an exceptional player,” the Paris-born Oughourlian tells L’Equipe, via Allez Lens, adding that Lens fought off competition from Lille to sign the youngster from Millonarios in Colombia.
“I called Franck Haise and said; ‘It’s not so bad?’. He pouted. He replied; ‘(Cortes) will have difficulty integrating into my system’.”
A second spell at Ibrox secured
Fortunately, Philippe Clement does not appear to be harbouring the same reservations. Cortes made an impact right from the start at Ibrox, more than deserving of a more long-term spell in Glasgow after injury brought a premature end to his 2023/24 campaign.
“I am really pleased to have Oscar coming back,” Clement says of Cortes, who provided a tantalising glimpse into his potential with a goal and assist during a 5-0 hammering of Hearts.
“He was a big asset to the squad when he came to the club and he showed the qualities that attracted him to us.
“Oscar suffered a setback, but he has worked tirelessly during his recovery and I am sure all of the fans are looking forward to seeing him again next season.”
