Former Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot has hailed Super Eagles star Emmanuel Fernandez, highlighting the qualities that have made the Nigerian defender one of the most valuable players in Scottish football, Footynaija.com reports.
Broadfoot believes Rangers made one of their best decisions of the summer by keeping Fernandez at Ibrox despite interest in the defender from several clubs.
The 24-year-old enjoyed an impressive 25/26 campaign after joining Rangers from Peterborough United, scoring five league goals while helping the club maintain a strong defensive record.
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His form earned him Rangers’ Men’s Player of the Season award as well as a place in the PFA Scotland Team of the Season.
Fernandez endured a slower start to the new campaign and came under criticism during the early weeks, but he has since responded with stronger performances for Derek McInnes’ side.
He also started at the heart of Nigeria’s defence alongside Benjamin Fredrick in Tuesday’s 3-3 friendly draw with Russia, giving him another opportunity to impress Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle.
Broadfoot, who is now working as a first-team coach at Kilmarnock, believes Rangers were right to resist the opportunity to sell the defender during the summer.
“I think a big one was keeping big Fernandez, keeping him here. He looks like an unbelievable player,” Broadfoot said in a recent interview.
“I just think he’s an all-round athlete. He’s good on the ball. He is very good in the air. He’s confident. He can probably do what he wants in the game, to be honest. He is the type of player that people look for.”
Those attributes have continued to make Fernandez a key figure for Rangers despite the early-season criticism, with the Nigerian starting all seven of his Scottish Premiership appearances this season.
