Carlos Pena’s spell at Scottish Premiership giants Rangers could be over after just seven months as he has been linked with a return to Liga MX from Ibrox.
Pedro Caixinha brought Carlos Pena to Rangers in June and, seven months later, he could take him away again.
According to the Scottish Sun, the £2million Mexican international is keen to return to his homeland with a move to Cruz Azul – who appointed Caixinha recently after his sacking by Rangers in October – on the cards.
It is understood that the Ibrox club want to sell Pena in a bid to recoup most of their summer investment, although the Liga MX side want to sign the 27-year-old on an initial loan deal until the end of the season.
There is clearly a long way to go before all parties can be happy with the deal. However Caixinha is excited about the prospect of working with Pena for the third time.
“Carlos Pena is a player we are trying to sign,” Caixinha said in quotes reported by the Daily Record (live blog, 9.41am).
“From my first day in this job, I said we need a holding midfielder and Carlos would be perfect. He is among our possibilities. He is a player I tried to sign for Santos Laguna and I brought him to Rangers.
“Despite not reaching the levels in Scotland that he reached in Mexico, Carlos is still a wonderful player.”
The phrase ‘wonderful player’ could raise eyebrows aplenty in the blue half of Glasgow. Despite netting five times in 14 games for Rangers, Pena has not lived up to expectations and has struggled somewhat with the intensity and physical nature of Scotland’s top flight.
If Rangers can earn back the £2million they spent on him in the summer, do not expect too many tears to be shed about Pena’s swift exit.
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