A ‘huge talent’.
That was the way Rangers fans were introduced to a man who no one in Glasgow knew from Adam before he joined Philippe Clement’s ranks earlier this week.
A ‘huge talent’, wrote reporter Sacha Tavolieri when breaking the news of the youngster’s Ibrox switch. A switch that was confirmed two days later, Rangers announcing via their official website that Clinton Nsiala would be joining from AC Milan when his contract runs out on July 1st.
But, having not played a single Serie A or Coppa Italia game for the seven-time European Champions, Tavolieri’s praise is about all that Rangers fans have had to go on.
Well, until former Ibrox frontman Marco Negri spoke to the Daily Record that is. Negri has worked with the Rossoneri’s academy, and knows just how highly Nsiala is regarded on Italian soil.
Rangers sign AC Milan youngster Clinton Nsiala
“He’s a centre-back with a very good, modern profile,” Negri explains. “Very, very aggressive, a good left foot and comfortable on the ball. But he’s very young and he’s only played Under-19s football which is very different to first-team level.”
Negri is, however, preaching patience with the youngster. The step up from youth football to the rigours of the men’s game is a substantial one, though the Italian believes that Clement could help the Brittany-born Nsiala settle after picking up a bit of French during his time at Monaco.
“I’m confident he can be a good signing,” Negri adds. “As a defender, Clinton is very aggressive. He’s strong in the one-v-one situations. He’s not very tall but he is good in the air. There are nice attributes.
“It’s an interesting pick by Rangers. If he continues to improve the way he has, in a couple of years’ time it could turn out to be a great signing.
Comparisons between Nsiala and Calvin Bassey are almost inevitable. And not just because they are both left-footed, front-foot defenders with both power and poise. Bassey had not played a single game of senior football before moving to Ibrox from Leicester City in a minimal fee.
Two years on, he was shining in the latter stages of the Europa League before sealing big-money moves to Ajax and – to the tune of £19 million – Fulham.
If Nsiala can follow in his path, then the potential upsides for Rangers are massive.
Calvin Bassey comparisons
“The hope of everyone at Ibrox is that Clinton follows the same path as Bassey,” Negri feels. “We all know that Rangers are looking for this kind of player that they can buy for cheap, help him improve and become successful at the club. And then if a bigger club with a lot of money comes along, they can sell him and use the money to buy another player.
“So when you can get a player like Clinton for free, then it’s a gamble worth taking.
“Everyone here in Italy knows he can be a cracking player. The board of Milan were very upset that he didn’t sign a new contract. Rangers are looking to do things that have an eye to the future and he is definitely a player for the future.”
Rangers are reportedly ‘very close’ to their fourth signing ofthe summer already. Albion Rrahmani, the Rapid Bucharest striker, is allegedly on his way. There is interest, too, in out-of-contract Aberdeen midfielder Connor Barron.
