Romania’s technical director, Mihai Stoichita, has expressed his discontent with Spanish club Alaves, claiming that the loan move of Rangers outcast Ianis Hagi has has been a waste of time.
Hagi embarked on a season-long loan to the La Liga side in August, but his time on the pitch has been disappointingly scarce. With only six league starts, the last of which dates back to the beginning of December, and a mere five substitute appearances in subsequent league games, Hagi’s lack of game time in Spain has raised concerns about his spot in Romania’s lineup for the upcoming European Championship this summer.
Stoichita, bewildered by the outcome of Hagi’s loan from Ibrox, questioned Alaves’ decision-making, stating, “Why did Alaves take him on loan from Rangers? I just don’t understand why they don’t play him. It’s not as if Alaves are brilliant or anything. I keep watching their games, and it doesn’t even register that Ianis isn’t playing – I just presume he is not.”
The Romanian FA technical director continued to express his frustration, emphasizing that Hagi’s potential is evident, and he could contribute significantly to the team’s success. Stoichita remarked, “When I do watch their matches, I look at their players, and there is no doubt that Ianis could do as well if not better than them. I ask myself why is the manager being unfair to him? Ianis is someone who can get you a goal at any time; he can unlock defenses with a pass.”
Stoichita concluded by questioning the rationale behind Alaves’ decision to sign Hagi in the first place, particularly when their results have been consistently unimpressive. “They keep losing or drawing with the same group of players. Why sign him in the first place?” he pondered.