Ianis Hagi faces a major career crisis after injury setback

The knee injury Ianis Hagi suffered in 2022 marked a turning point in a career that had been moving toward its best period. Since returning from surgery, the Romanian international has not recovered the form that established him before the setback.

Hagi tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing for Rangers. He underwent surgery and did not return to the field until January 2023, after a year away from football. About three and a half years later, he is still trying to rediscover his previous level.

The injury could have ended his career altogether. Many footballers have failed to return to top-level football after similar damage, although Hagi did make it back onto the pitch.

His market value reflects the difficult period. In 2022, when he was at the strongest stage of his career, Transfermarkt valued the midfielder at 7 million euros. That figure has now fallen to 1.8 million euros.

Rangers chose not to extend his contract, a decision some football figures challenged at the time. His subsequent spell at Alanyaspor did little to reverse the decline. Hagi scored five goals and provided two assists in 31 matches for the Turkish club, figures viewed as modest given expectations surrounding his transfer. The situation worsened this summer when Alanyaspor placed him on its list of players it wants to release. Hagi is now trying to find a new team at the end of the transfer window.