The second of our Nico Raskin series about disappointment his major Europa admissions during his press conference on Friday sees this particular entry offering another take. What else did Raskin say in this presser that was so revealing and offered so much to the press and to the fans about where Raskin stands?

Well, the big one, of course, was his admission of something that Ibrox Noise has been discussing for many, many years, and it relates back to what Steven Gerrard said about Alfredo Morelos almost a decade ago.

European Football as a Shop Window

That is that Europe is a platform that players want to show off on in order to be in the shop window. Raskin literally said almost exactly those words during his presser, indicating he wanted Europe in order to impress for a move to another, bigger league or club.

He said:

“Europe is very good for the club. It lets players show themselves and helps the club get better value for players. It brings money into the club as well.”

That is what Europe does. It is a gigantic shop window, whether it’s the Europa League or the Champions League, especially the Champions League, in fairness, that players have to showcase their talents. And Raskin Europa disappointment is part of Nico missing out on it.

He said it about the World Cup as well. He said that he wanted to use the World Cup to showcase his talents and to demonstrate his merits, potentially for moving to another team. He’s saying the same thing now about European football, and that is so accurate on both occasions.

Forget all the silverware that can be won in Europe or at the World Cup or major tournaments. But these things really are shop windows, shop windows for players to get big moves in January and during the summer.

The Importance of January’s Transfer Window

It is, of course, especially prominent during January’s window because that is at the height of these competitions. If a player has had a cracking start in a European competition and is shining at that level, he’s going to get a higher level of exposure and a higher chance that a bid will come in during the winter window.

Raskin has made that admission as well. He wanted to get his move from Rangers this summer. It didn’t happen. He didn’t push for it, but he was very open to it.

And he has admitted that Europe, which he has now lost, of course, would have been another way for him to showcase his attributes and try to get the switch he needs.

Raskin’s Rangers Future

In short, Raskin is ready to leave, even if he does say that he loves Rangers, which he does. There’s no question about that.

It’s just, for him personally, a pity that he didn’t get the move in summer that he wanted.

C’est la vie.