Rangers operate in a modern football landscape awash with digital tokenism, where social media activity from players is frequently dismissed as empty PR routine or automated management by agency staff.

Every weekend, feeds are flooded with generic reshapes, celebratory emojis, and stock post-match quotes. However, when an absentee player breaks his digital silence to spotlight a teammate, it occasionally warrants a closer look.

Youssef Chermiti and Badredine Bouanani may never play together at Rangers, but social media gesture speaks volumes

Chermiti, though, went one step further and shared Bouanani’s post on his own Instagram Stories in what is a classy gesture towards the Algeria international.

Admittedly, social media activity alone does not automatically prove deep behind-the-scenes camaraderie or an unbreakable dressing room bond. Footballers share hundreds of digital spaces without it translating into meaningful interpersonal connection.

Yet the timing and context surrounding Chermiti’s gesture make it uniquely interesting for Rangers.

Crucially, Chermiti and Bouanani have never actually played a competitive minute together. Chermiti has been sidelined with a serious ligament injury since 9 August, while Bouanani did not arrive at Ibrox until deadline day on 3 September.

Given the severity of Chermiti’s setback and the lack of a definitive return timeline, combined with Bouanani’s status as a loanee – though Rangers hold a permanent option – there is a genuine possibility the pair may never even share the pitch for the Gers.

Despite his long-term absence keeping him away from the matchday spotlight, Chermiti has been spotted in and around Auchenhowie in recent weeks, appearing in good spirits alongside teammates like Nicolas Raskin in behind-the-scenes club footage.

This presence matters. For a newcomer like Bouanani adjusting to life in Glasgow, having an established figure reach out can be invaluable. While their only direct cultural overlap lies in their North African heritage – Bouanani represents Algeria internationally, while Chermiti holds Tunisian citizenship through his father, and both hold French citizenship – such shared backgrounds can fast-track comfort and integration.

For manager Derek McInnes, having a player of Chermiti’s profile actively engaging with new signings and younger prospects around the training ground can only mean good things for squad culture. If quiet gestures like this help Bouanani feel completely settled in Scotland, it could ultimately pave the way for a seamless £15.5million permanent transfer next summer, proving that leadership and influence at a modern football club extend beyond matchdays.