“Robin Propper’s Uncertain Move to Rangers: Doubts, Contract Clauses, and Regrets”
The signing of Robin Propper by Rangers was quite unexpected. He arrived out of nowhere as a last-minute acquisition, and it wasn’t until after the deal was completed that FC Twente’s Technical Director, Arnold Bruggink, expressed his disappointment at losing both the defender and his club captain so abruptly.
There are several issues with this situation, starting with Propper’s silence. He hasn’t denied anything and has stayed quiet during the unfolding story. Perhaps denying the claims wouldn’t help either.
Bruggink also mentioned that Propper wasn’t entirely sure about joining Rangers. He was conflicted between staying at Twente or making the move.
Here’s the situation:
Last summer, Propper was approached, but Twente wanted to keep him. He agreed to a contract clause that would allow him to leave the following summer if another club met a specific release fee, which was set at a reasonable £2 million.
However, Propper was very keen on helping Twente reach the Champions League, and when the team finished third in the Dutch league, it changed his perspective.
Propper hadn’t expected to qualify for the Champions League. Twente had finished 5th the previous season, and securing third place seemed unlikely when he requested the contract clause. But against the odds, they achieved it. When Rangers showed interest, Propper found himself torn.
So, does he really want to be at Ibrox?
Bruggink explained:
“I spent a lot of time with Robin here because he had doubts initially. He said, ‘We finally have Europe, and that’s what I really want with FC Twente.’ But ultimately, he chose to leave. You always consider the possibility of players leaving. But at that moment, on July 28, I wasn’t expecting it anymore. Still, you always have to anticipate that players might move on.”
This statement might be a bit unclear, as Twente did qualify for European competition last season, though it was the Conference League, not the Champions League, which was the real goal.
It seems that Propper wasn’t fully committed to joining Rangers and was given a choice. He chose the new challenge, but now it seems he might be second-guessing that decision.