Gheorge Hagi has been told he's harming son, Ianis.

That's according to former Romania star Tudorel Stoica, who believes the country's most-decorated player is being too positive and not helping him drive high standards. 

Hagi junior, 25, was a key part of the Rangers squad between 2020 and 2022, but injury reduced the playmaker to just 11 appearances last season and he was subsequently shipped out on a season-long loan for the 2023/24 campaign.

He has played 22 times for Spanish outfit Alaves, scoring twice and assisting one goal. Form that doesn't exactly set the heather alight. 

However, he was called up for Romania's international double-header with Northern Ireland and Colombia this month and netted in a 3-2 defeat against the South American nation to do his chances of being included in the 23-man Euro 2024 squad no harm.

READ MORE: Michael Beale surprised by Rangers job timing as he lifts lid on exit

Stoica has watched his one-time Steaua Bucharest teammate constantly praise his child - even when he feels the midfielder hasn't played well, and reckons it's because he's desperate for him to follow in his legendary footsteps.

Speaking to Digisport, Stoica said: "I think that Gica is harming Ianis by praising him. I understand him, it's his father, but Ianis didn't really play where he was and it doesn't do him any good.

"I say that everyone defends their child, praises him, but to say that he was declared the best, and the team lost, seems exaggerated to me. Gica was my colleague, but I think he is exaggerating and harming the child."