Rangers boss Graeme Murty has revealed that veteran defender Bruno Alves still remains in his plans, despite the 36-year-old being linked with a move away from the club this month.
It is a well-known fact that Alves is desperate to play at the World Cup with Portugal this summer, in what would be his final major international tournament as a player.
As reported by the Scottish Sun, Alves is considering a return to Serie A with strugglers Benevento in an attempt to guarantee himself first-team football between now and the end of the season.
The 94-cap Portugal international is currently sidelined with an ankle injury sustained in the Old Firm derby on the 30th of December, Rangers’ last competitive match before the winter break.
But Murty, speaking to the press in the pre-match conference before their clash against Aberdeen on Wednesday, emphatically said that the club were trying to get the enforcer fit and firing again, and hoped he could play a big part in the near future.
Murty was quoted by the club’s official Twitter account on Tuesday afternoon:
GM: Bruno Alves has spoken to me previously about wanting to play in the World Cup. We’re trying to get him back fit because he could play a big part in the second half of this season.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) January 23, 2018
OPINION
The Alves situation is a tough one for Rangers. On one hand, they have a highly-experienced and decorated defender who is a massive asset to the squad. Alves’ leadership skills and his extensive knowledge from so many years in the game will be a massive boost to the squad’s young players. On the other hand they have a 36-year-old defender who has not really hit the heights since his summer move, and who is earning a bigger wage than anyone else at the club. It is a tough toss-up for Murty, but he seems to be erring on the side of keeping Alves until the summer.