Glasgow Rangers took the decision to rip up Fabio Cardoso’s contract to make sure the defender left Ibrox during the summer window.
Fabio Cardoso did not last long at Rangers. Just one season, in fact.
The Portuguese centre-back arrived at Ibrox from Vitoria Setubal for a fee of £1.5 million but it quickly became apparent that the aggressive, fast-paced nature of Scottish football was not for him.
Cardoso was bullied by the likes of Conor Sammon and Rakish Bingham and, as soon as Pedro Caixinha was sacked last October, he was barely seen again.
Four new centre-backs have arrived at Ibrox since Steven Gerrard took over as manager this summer – Gareth McAuley, Joe Worrall, Nikola Katic and Connor Goldson – and it was no surprise when Cardoso was one of the first out the door.
Rangers terminated the 24-year-old’s contract in June before he signed a four-year deal at Primeira Liga newcomers Santa Clara, marking a return to Portugal for the former Benfica youngster.
And, fortunately for Cardoso, he looks far more at home in picturesque Ponta Delgada. Cardoso has lost just one of his first four games for Santa Clara and, impressively, he has hit the back of the net twice in that time.
He was the best player on the pitch in a recent 2-2 draw with Portimonense and it seems that he is going about restoring his reputation in precisely the right way.
Some players are not cut out for certain leagues in certain countries and the former Rangers man could well be one of them.
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