Glasgow Rangers are closing in on a deal to sign Fabio Cardoso, bringing him to Ibrox for a fee of £1.3 million.
Fabio Cardoso is closing in on a move to Ibrox
Former Falkirk striker Pedro Moutinho has explained to The Scottish Sun what Rangers fans should expect from Ibrox-bound Fabio Cardoso, and added what may surprise the defender about Scottish football.
According to the Daily Record, the Gers are closing in on a £1.3 million deal for the 23-year-old. The fee involved coupled with the experience and stature of one of the Light Blues’ summer signings, Bruno Alves suggests that Pedro Caixinha is on the verge of putting together his first-choice centre-back partnership for next season.
Rangers have already signed Bruno Alves
However, with Cardoso likely to be a largely-unknown quantity to Rangers fans, his countryman Moutinho has suggested what it is that the Vitoria Setubal defender will bring to the side.
“The Rangers fans should expect a good all-round defender. He has many attributes, not just one or two,” he told The Scottish Sun.
“Cardoso isn’t the quickest central defender I’ve ever seen but he’s not slow at all.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha is close to putting a new centre-back partnership together
“He can use his pace when he needs to. He is also very good in the air, strong in the tackle and is composed coming out of defence with the ball.”
But Moutinho – who spent four years with Falkirk – has added that Cardoso may be in for a bit of a surprise once he starts playing in the Scottish Premiership.
“Cardoso is a lot younger and it will surprise him when people try to tackle from behind,” he added.
“That doesn’t happen back home but once he plays a few games, he will love Scottish football and the country too.”
Rangers fans will certainly be hoping that Moutinho’s assessment and praise of Cardoso proves to be accurate following a season where the club really struggled to put together a solid centre-back partnership.
Clint Hill was probably the one stalwart at centre-back, but the club have let him go, so there was arguably additional pressure to make some good additions in that area of the pitch with the likes of Danny Wilson and David Bates showing brief glimpses of form this past season, while Rob Kiernan struggled for much of the campaign.
But, based on Moutinho’s assessment, it appears that Cardoso and Alves could be an extremely promising partnership for the Gers.
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