Rangers Boss Derek McInnes Tells Star Player: Find a New Club or You Won’t Play a Single Game This Season Some fans are happy. Others are not

Derek McInnes has only been Rangers manager for one month. But he is already making it clear: he is in charge, and he will not compromise.

 

The Scottish boss, who took over at Ibrox in June following a disappointing third-place finish in the Scottish Premiership, has delivered a brutal ultimatum to one of his first-team players: leave the club this summer, or spend the entire season on the bench.

McInnes made the revelation during a press conference on Tuesday. He did not name the player directly, but club sources have since confirmed the individual’s identity. For now, the manager’s message was loud and clear.

What McInnes Said

In his first real test as Rangers boss, McInnes did not hold back. Speaking to journalists at the club’s training ground, he made his stance crystal clear:

 

“I have been transparent with the player, with his agent, and with the board. He is not part of my plans. If he stays, he will not play  not one minute. Not in the Premiership, not in the cups, not anywhere. It is his choice: find a new club before the window closes, or prepare to sit in the stands for the entire season.”

He continued:

“I was not brought here to keep things as they were. I was brought here to change things. That means making difficult decisions early. I will not carry players who do not fit what we are building.”

For a manager who has only been in the job for four weeks, it is a remarkably bold statement of intent.

Why Some Fans Are Happy

 

A large section of the Rangers fanbase has applauded McInnes’s uncompromising approach. They see a manager who is not afraid to make tough calls, even if they are unpopular.

What they’re saying:

· “Finally, a manager with backbone. We’ve had too many players coasting for years.”

· “He’s been here five minutes and already he’s showing more authority than the last three managers combined.”

· “If you don’t want to fight for the shirt, get out. Simple as that.”

 

For these supporters, McInnes is exactly what the club needed after a turbulent season that saw Rangers finish third behind Celtic and Hearts.

Why Some Fans Are Not Happy

 

But not everyone is convinced. A significant number of Rangers fans have voiced concerns about the way McInnes has handled the situation.

 

What they’re saying:

 

· “This is how you lose a dressing room before the season even starts. Handle it privately.”

· “You can be firm without humiliating a player in front of the world.”

· “Now every club knows we want to sell. We’ve lost all our bargaining power.”

 

There are also worries about the wider impact on squad morale. If McInnes is willing to publicly exile one player so early into his reign, other squad members may start to feel uneasy about their own positions.

Who Is the Player?

 

While McInnes refused to name names during his press conference, sources close to the club have confirmed that the player at the centre of the storm is Danilo.

 

The Brazilian striker joined Rangers from Feyenoord in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of £6 million, arriving with a big reputation. However, his time in Glasgow has been plagued by injuries and inconsistent form, and he has never quite lived up to expectations.

Since McInnes’s arrival last month, it has become clear that the new manager does not see a future for Danilo at Ibrox. The manager’s system, which favours quick, mobile forwards who press from the front, does not suit the Brazilian’s style of play. The recent arrival of Lawrence Shankland from Hearts has also pushed Danilo further down the pecking order.

 

The 27-year-old, who still has two years remaining on his contract, is believed to be earning around £28,000 per week at Ibrox. He was notably absent from Rangers’ first pre-season friendly against Saint-Etienne this week a decision that now makes complete sense.

 

Reports have emerged that McInnes has green-lit a deal for Danilo to return to his homeland, with Brazilian side Botafogo understood to be in advanced talks.

The Commercial Risk

 

From a business perspective, McInnes’s public ultimatum is a gamble. By openly admitting that Danilo is surplus to requirements, Rangers have signalled to every other club that they are desperate to sell. That is almost certain to drive down the striker’s transfer value.

 

Danilo still has two years on his deal, and if he chooses to stay, Rangers could be left paying high wages for a player who contributes nothing on the pitch  a painful prospect for a club with a reported transfer deficit of nearly €14 million.

 

McInnes, however, appears unconcerned by the financial implications.

 

“I am a coach, not an accountant,” he said with a shrug. “My job is to win matches. If he stays, he costs money and adds nothing. That is worse than selling for less than we want.

What Happens Next?

 

The summer transfer window closes on August 31, leaving just over five weeks for Danilo to finalise a move back to Brazil.

 

Pre-season continues this week, with the Brazilian striker now training separately from the main group a clear sign that McInnes’s threat is not an empty one.

 

The Rangers board, led by chairman Andrew Cavenagh, is understood to be fully behind their new manager. The club has already been active in the transfer market, with signings including Cameron Devlin, Ben Godfrey, and Lawrence Shankland arriving to strengthen the squad.

 

Interest in Danilo is believed to have come from Brazilian clubs, with Botafogo leading the chase. However, no formal bid has yet been tabled.

The Bigger Question

 

For McInnes, this is about more than just one player. It is about establishing his authority early and sending a message: no one is bigger than the team.

 

Rangers kick off their Premiership campaign away to Dundee United on August 1, with the first Old Firm derby looming on the horizon.

 

As one Rangers insider put it: “He came here to change the culture, not to tinker around the edges. This is his first real test. So far, he is passing it on his own terms.”

 

But the final verdict will only come when the season starts. And if results do not follow, McInnes may find that the fans who cheered his boldness today are the same ones calling for his head tomorrow.