The Glasgow Rangers midfielder looked completely out of place as Pedro Caixinha’s side crashed out of Europe this week.
While Rangers have been busy in the summer transfer market, Gers fans may have been wary at the sheer volume of players arriving at Ibrox with absolutely no experience of Scottish football, and one of the club’s most obscure signings certainly has a long way to go before he wins over the doubters.
Dalcio signed for Rangers from Benfica – or more specifically Benfica’s B team – earlier this summer, becoming one of Pedro Caixinha’s first additions.
The problem is on the evidence of his two Europa League appearances, he is not very good.
After a 90-minute outing in the first leg against Progres Niederkorn, the 21-year-old was sent on for the second half with the match on a knife edge.
However, by the full-time whistle Rangers had lost 2-0 and their new winger had put in a turgid display that makes you wonder where his next start will come from.
While match fitness clearly played a role, it was Dalcio’s decision making and ability on the ball that had most Rangers fans wondering if they had signed a dud.
So does the youngster need patience…or a miracle?
The former certainly will not hurt, with wingers notoriously erratic and Dalcio needing to settle at a new club in a new country. However, this was not simply a case of a player needing to get some games under his belt; the new Rangers addition looked out of his depth against a side they should have dispatched with ease.
It would be unfair to write the Portuguese winger off too soon. Yet he may need a lot more than patience if he is to prove he will ever be anything more than a Benfica reserve.
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