Alfredo Morelos' Rangers career ends with Ibrox farewell

And just like that, Alfredo Morelos’ Rangers story is over. A name and club that became so synonymous, this day in a way felt like it would never arrive, his last in blue at Ibrox. On a night of goodbyes, his was the one that took centre stage. Fittingly, so too has the 26-year-old ever since walking in six summers ago.

Endings are never easy because they’re, normally, too early or far too late. Finding the right time to say goodbye in football is rarely right for both parties and, in the cases of Morelos and Ryan Kent, these exits don’t arrive in peak moments, with heavy transfer fees in return.

Still, despite the disappointment of how this season ends compared to the highs of 2020/21 and the journey of 2022/23, with no ultimate happy ending, there was still thanks to be had at Ibrox on Wednesday night. 

For many Rangers supporters of a certain era, Morelos was their first hero. The player most capable of moments and at the fore of all those European nights. At times, he single-handedly carried the attack. A maverick and enigma in equal measure, he found a home here and a support offering levels of adoration few in football will ever experience.

In many senses, Morelos is a hero of his time and context. Arriving at a juncture when the Rangers support had been starved of watching any sort of personality.

Change is not limited to Kent and Morelos. Against Hearts, there was time for a few more Glen Kamara turns and Scott Arfield songs. Allan McGregor will be given a justified send-off of his own when his testimonial is played against Newcastle this July. Fil Helander, not seen all season, was thanked too.

The centre of attention was fixed firmly on Morelos, determined to go out in style.

Fittingly, his last performance wasn’t quiet. The forward was relatively busy off the ball and stole it back on a couple of occasions. There was the customary drop-in, roll and switch of play and some loose passes with it. At one point he pinned Kye Rowles, carried his weight and turned, in tribute to a move that he’s performed so often in the past. Determined to play the greatest hits, fit with some ire directed at the visiting bench, the only thing missing was that well-rehearsed knee slide.

The Colombian had his name sung three times before any other was mentioned. This has been his stage and audience ever since arriving and as the curtain was drawn, that wasn’t about to change.

One cross was just taken off his toe before an incisive moment arrived on the stroke of half-time.

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Drifting wide in transition the forward exchanged passes with the brilliant Todd Cantwell and, upon learning of his fortuitous assist, sprung into action with the Hearts bench while his teammate John Souttar arrived quickly to play the ‘He’s not worth it, mate’ role. Box office right up until the end.

After the break, one shot flashed wide of the right post while another evaded the left. On 75 minutes the forward bulldozed into his man at the left corner and fizzed a low left-footed shot which Arfield nearly converted at the second attempt. When Rabbi Matondo did brilliantly to run the whole pitch but slightly overhit his through ball, the No.20 threw his hands high with furious displeasure. Minutes later he looked to be through on goal until Toby Sibbick intervened.

Ibrox was willing the ball to nestle in at the Copland Road end, but eventually, the adulation was saved for his departure as all four stands stood up and sang one last song. Morelos, beating his chest and acknowledging the applause, looked up one last time.

There will always be a what could’ve been attached to his Rangers story. Kent, not in the matchday squad, was capable of genuine magic and on that European run last season he genuinely starred. Ibrox would hold its breath when the ball was switched left on those Thursday evenings, knowing anything was possible.

For the Colombian, when everything clicked, he really did feel unstoppable. And yes it could’ve been more, yes the sheer will and desire witnessed on Wednesday hasn’t been seen enough in recent months and there were plenty of downs with the ups. Morelos was called out by Gerrard, Van Bronckhorst and Beale, dropped for this season’s Champions League qualifier and not exactly raring to go from the first whistle of seasons on too many occasions. For many, there was more than one misstep too far for his legacy not to be tainted.

And yet, how boring would life be if everything was linear? Morelos arrived in the Pedro Caixinha era as an understudy to Eduardo Herrera for £1million and leaves as the club’s record goalscorer in Europe. Few, if any, provided as much over the years on route to the most important title of all.

With time the lasting image will be those showings against Dortmund, those headers against Feyenoord, those performances against Porto, that Legia Warsaw winner, that purple patch in spring 2021 and the first half of 2019/20. The buoyancy with which he stole behind the goalkeeper at Ross County to score, his exuberance when scoring and too many knee slides to count.

To borrow a phrase from my friend Martyn Ramsay, ‘the pendulum was constantly swinging from liability to legend’.

The time has come for new protagonists at Ibrox. Morelos, imperfectly unpredictable as he was predictably brilliant, was a sign of the times he walked into. Right into the hearts of the support.