Talk about a pre-derby bombshell! Nico Raskin is out of the Old Firm squad, despite being fully fit. Whispers of a showdown meeting and training away from the first team are swirling. What exactly led to this stunning decision? The plot thickens for Rangers fans!

The Scottish football landscape has been rocked by the dramatic exclusion of Nico Raskin from Rangers FC’s crucial Old Firm Derby squad against Celtic, sparking intense speculation and internal turmoil at Ibrox regarding this significant player controversy.

This stunning development follows a reported showdown meeting between the Belgian international and manager Russell Martin, which ultimately led to Raskin being informed he would play no part in the highly anticipated fixture, despite being deemed fully fit by the club.

Initial reports had circulated suggesting the 24-year-old Nico Raskin was carrying an injury from a recent defeat; however, these claims were swiftly countered as Russell Martin himself confirmed Raskin’s fitness ahead of the Celtic clash, adding a layer of complexity to the situation for Rangers FC.

Adding further fuel to the fire, it emerged that Nico Raskin had been training separately from the main first-team squad in the pivotal build-up to the derby, a move that undoubtedly signaled growing tensions behind the scenes in Scottish football and contributed to the burgeoning player controversy.

Sources close to Rangers FC indicate that following his early morning meeting with Russell Martin, the midfielder expressed significant disappointment at the decision to sideline him, highlighting the personal impact of the manager’s choice in this high-stakes environment.

During his subsequent media conference, manager Russell Martin notably failed to fully clarify the unfolding situation surrounding Nico Raskin, his cryptic responses only deepening the mystery and further threatening to disrupt Rangers FC’s Old Firm Derby preparations.

Martin’s comments, “The whole squad is here but things can change because the transfer window is open. I don’t know the squad yet. I don’t know how people will train or how they’ll feel so we’ll wait and see,” hinted at potential further movements, suggesting Nico Raskin’s future at Ibrox could be under scrutiny amidst the ongoing transfer period.

This internal discord involving a key player just before one of the most significant matches in Scottish football raises critical questions about team cohesion, management strategy, and the psychological impact on the squad as Rangers FC face their fierce rivals in the Old Firm Derby.

As the dust settles on this pre-derby bombshell, the full ramifications of Nico Raskin’s exclusion and the true extent of the disagreement with Russell Martin remain subjects of widespread discussion, leaving fans and pundits alike awaiting further clarity on the Belgian’s future and the overall player controversy.