Glasgow Rangers made Bruno Alves the first signing they brought to Ibrox this summer.
Former Rangers boss Alex McLeish
Alex McLeish has suggested that while he does not know much about many of Rangers’ summer signings, the acquisition of Bruno Alves could prove to be an inspired one from Pedro Caixinha, the Evening Times reports.
The Gers have wasted little time getting busy in the transfer window, with Caixinha already overseeing five deals as he looks to put their disappointing season from this past year behind them by conducting a major overhaul of the squad.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
And while McLeish appeared to know little about some of those new faces, he suggested that Rangers’ first signing of the summer could prove to be a masterstroke.
“In my own managerial career, and hopefully there is more to come, I was up to speed with players on the continent because you can’t just know the household names,” he said, as reported by the Evening Times.
“In that regard, the one that is recognisable is Bruno Alves. He is a top class player and hopefully he will be a good leader for Rangers.
Bruno Alves
“In terms of the other guys, we have to wait and see the quality of them. It is exciting for Rangers and we will see what they can do on the pitch.”
Caixinha undoubtedly needed to strengthen the club’s options at the back, especially after deciding not to renew Clint Hill’s contract at Ibrox.
Hill was arguably one of the Light Blues’ best performers during his one campaign with the club, so it may have seemed to be a gamble to let him go had they not found an experienced replacement.
But in Alves, they have certainly found that. The 35-year-old has played in a variety of leagues and has 90 caps for Portugal under his belt, so appears to have all the attributes that made Hill so important this past season while also boasting the quality that will help the side make a step up from the struggles they endured last term.
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