![\"Nicolas](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_Rangers-v-Celtic-William-Hill-Premiership.jpg\")
Nicolas Raskin has caught the eye(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\nFormer Lyon and Napoli boss Rudi Garcia could not contain his excitement about the 24-year-old’s potential<\/p>\n
11:20, 08 May 2025Updated 11:40, 08 May 2025<\/p>\n
Nicolas Raskin has caught the eye(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\n
Duracell-powered Nicolas Raskin<\/a> has been branded as the future heartbeat of the Belgium national side.<\/p>\n The 24-year-old midfielder has been a bright spark in a tough domestic campaign for Rangers with major performances in the Europa League <\/a>and Old Firm clashes.<\/p>\n The snapping middleman has seen his success go international after he starred for his country in the UEFA Nations League<\/a> playoff.<\/p>\n Raskin was powerless to stops his team’s 3-1 defeat to Ukraine in the first leg before standing tall in the return as he made his first start in the 3-0 reverse.<\/p>\n Belgium boss Rudi Garcia has a wealth of experience and has coached top players at the likes of Lyon, Roma and Napoli.<\/p>\n And the French coach, 61 – who beat Gers flop Philippe Clement<\/a> to the punch when he replaced sacked Red Devils boss Domenico Tedesco in January – knows when he sees quality.<\/p>\n Speaking on Pickx+ Sports, Garcia believes he can succeed the likes of Aston Villa duo Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana, the latter of which cost the English Premier League side \u00a350m.<\/p>\n “I have Youri Tielemans, I have Amadou Onana and who do I have behind?” he said.<\/p>\n “When you see Raskin’s match in the return leg against Ukraine you tell yourself that we’ve won a midfielder for the future.<\/p>\n “Because Nico has shown that he’s able to be aggressive, defensive, win duels, he’s able to propose himself because he likes to come search the balls.<\/p>\n “He played almost 100 balls during the game with more than 90 per cent pass accuracy, while playing forward, because it’s easy to have nine per cent pass accuracy when you only play backwards.”<\/p>\n Garcia also revealed he is “annoyed” with Raskins’ 21-year-old rival, Romeo Lavia – who signed for Chelsea from Southampton for \u00a352m in 2023.<\/p>\n He added: “I’m being told from everywhere that he [Lavia] has talent. For now he’s injured a lot. He finally played two matches with Chelsea.<\/p>\n “I almost started getting annoyed telling my medical staff ‘If Chelsea isn’t able to make him fit we’d have to make him come to us to see what’s the problem with a boy so young that’s often injured’.”<\/p>\n Raskin has two years left on his current contract at Rangers.<\/p>\n But if the first-teamer doesn\u2019t want or get offered new terms then there could be a decision to be made<\/a> by the club hierarchy.<\/p>\n Follow Record Sport<\/strong> on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.<\/p>\n You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers<\/a> and Celtic<\/a> pages, and sign up to our newsletters<\/a> to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We’re also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here<\/a> and our Celtic community here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tune in to Hotline Live<\/a> every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On<\/a>, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Rudi](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_13719063.jpg\")
Rudi Garcia(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\n