He’s the man they’ve all been waiting for. After almost two months, a Confederations Cup, a European embarrassment that would give a British Eurovision entry a run for its money and a head coach standing in a hedge in Luxembourg, Rangers fans finally got their first glimpse of Bruno Alves as a Rangers player.
A quick flick through the club’s social media accounts brought up images of the Portuguese defender, fresh from the rigours of battle in Russia, moseying on to a freshly-cut lawn at Auchenhowie to begin his two-year deal.
Here, we spoke to Portuguese football expert and Lisbon-based
journalist Tom Kundert, who, for his work with ESPN, World Soccer Magazine and Portuguese football site Portugoal.net , has been following Alves’s progress closely over the summer months as he helped Portugal to a third-place finish in the Confed Cup.
Read more: Steven Whittaker: I don't fear the jeers at Rangers
“He definitely fits into the leadership mould,” Kundert told Herald Sport.
“His 100-per-cent commitment on the pitch is matched by saying all the right things off it.
“He expresses himself well, is vocal, and I’m pretty sure his achievements and confidence in his own ability will make him feel others can benefit from his opinions.
“In the Confederations Cup he was excellent, like he was when
called upon at Euro 2016. He didn’t put a foot wrong, and was a monster in the air.
Read more: Steven Whittaker: I don't fear the jeers at Rangers
“Having 93 caps gives him status as a leader in the Portugal squad, despite not being a regular starter, which makes it easier for him to step into the team when needs be.
“So assured was he in Russia, after coming in for Jose Fonte, that if the World Cup started tomorrow and everyone was fit, I would expect Fernando Santos to choose him and Pepe as the starters.
“Bruno speaks good English, certainly can communicate easily with Spanish speakers, and having played extensively and successfully in several different countries, he will be able to offer words of advice.”
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