Rangers allowed Daniel Candeias to leave Ibrox over the summer.
With Steven Gerrard bringing a number of new faces to Rangers this past summer, a host of fringe players also had to leave Ibrox.
The likes of Lee Wallace, Kyle Lafferty, Graham Dorrans, Ryan Hardie and Lee Hodson all left the club permanently, as did winger Daniel Candeias.
Of all the summer departures from Rangers, Candeias is the one that divided opinion the most. The winger was one of the few successful signings from the ill-fated Pedro Caixinha era, and struck up a strong partnership with James Tavernier down the right flank.
In two years at Ibrox, Candeias racked up 14 goals and 25 assists, but at 31 and with his contract expiring in 2020, Rangers chose to cash in – and sold him for just £250,000 according to The Scottish Sun.
Candeias head off to Turkey with Genclerbirligi, and before last night’s trip to Antalyaspor, they were winless with just three points from their first seven games.
However, they produced a simply unbelievable result last night, smashing Antalyaspor 6-0 away from home, and Candeias was on fire with three goals and two assists, all in the first half.
The Portuguese winger set up Giovanni Sio for both of his goals, with Bogdan Stancu’s second half strike the only goal Candeias wasn’t involved in.
Few could have seen Genclerbirligi’s performance or the Candeias show happening, but the winger showed just why some didn’t want to see him leave Rangers, even if Gerrard no doubt sticks by his decision given the other wingers he brought to Ibrox.
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