Rangers defender Bruno Alves is set to leave Ibrox.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has told the Glasgow Evening Times that Bruno Alves is having his contract terminated by mutual consent today.
The Gers swooped to land Alves from Cagliari last summer, as former boss Pedro Caixinha snapped up his compatriot in a major deal to boost the Rangers defence.
A strong character with huge experience with Portugal and with clubs such as Porto, Zenit St Petersburg and Fenerbahce, Alves was seen as a major coup – but he couldn’t live up to his billing.
The 36-year-old centre back struggled to hit top form under Caixinha, and then barely played once the former Gers boss was sacked, leading to speculation about his future at Ibrox.
With Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic arriving to boost Gerrard’s back four, Alves has been edging closer and closer to the exit door, with a move back to Italy on the cards.
Parma are back in Serie A and want to sign Alves, with Gerrard today confirming to the Glasgow Evening Times that he is set to be unveiled as a Parma player imminently.
Gerrard admitted that Alves is leaving Ibrox today as his contract is being terminated by mutual consent, and wished him all the best at Parma – and added that he wants to bring in a new defender amid links to Millwall’s Jake Cooper.
“Bruno’s contract is being terminated mutually,” said Gerrard. “That’s happening today I believe so both parties are really happy and we both move on. He’s about to be unveiled at Parma and we wish him all the best. Yes, there are areas I’d still like to improve – central defender. With Bruno leaving we need extra cover there,” he added.
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