Rangers: Charlie McCann leaving a ‘shock’

Former Glasgow Rangers defender Alan Hutton says that Charlie McCann leaving Ibrox is a ‘bit of a shock’.

The Lowdown: McCann leaves

Rangers confirmed on Tuesday that McCann has left the club to join Forest Green Rovers for an undisclosed fee.

They add that they have retained a ‘significant’ future sell-on percentage for the 20-year-old, who joined from Manchester United’s academy in 2021.

McCann made a cameo in Rangers’ 2-1 win at home to Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals earlier this month, and had made four senior appearances for them in total this season.

The Latest: Hutton shocked

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton says that McCann’s sale comes as a ‘bit of a shock’, admitting that he was ‘surprised’ after hearing the news:

“I am most surprised about Charlie McCann going to Forest Green.

“He has not played so much, he had a little cameo against Aberdeen in the semi-final. He looked like a talented player who could maybe give something at only 20 years of age.

“To see that he is going is a bit of a shock.

“Every young footballer wants to play and it is difficult to break through into Rangers and Celtic. So if you can’t do that then you need to find first team football somewhere else.“

The Verdict: Needed more games

As much of a talent that McCann is, as Forest Green head of performance and recruitment Stevie Grieve has hailed him as ‘absolutely outstanding‘ upon his arrival, the Englishman needed to leave the Gers in order to get more game time.

He has only played eight senior games for the club since arriving in 2021, after impressing with the B team, where he managed five goals and three assists in 12 matches (Transfermarkt).

One could question whether Forest Green was the right move for McCann, with the League One club recently letting go of their manager Ian Burchnall as they sit bottom of the table and four points from safety.

However, the midfielder is likely to get more game time there then at the Light Blues, who have recently signed Todd Cantwell from Norwich City, and have agreed personal terms with another midfielder in Nicolas Raskin.

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