The Portuguese midfielder is still revered at many of his clubs. Rangers and Mark Warburton should look to bring him to Ibrox.
Rangers are currently in a good run of form. Currently unbeaten in their last five games they are currently second in the Scottish Premiership table – although, admittedly, a long way behind leaders Celtic who have two games in hand.
Mark Warburton’s side certainly do not seem to be missing Joey Barton, whose experience at Ibrox was both brief and unspectacular on the field of play.
Joey Barton applauds fans as he is substituted
But they could do with bringing in an equally experienced midfield operator, especially with Niko Kranjcar now out of action through injury.
Could Raul Meireles be the man for Rangers?
The bearded Portugal international is the type of player Rangers fans love. He wears his heart on his sleeve and gives everything to the clubs he plays for. Just ask Liverpool, Chelsea or Fenerbahce fans, where he reached cult status. He could surely do the same in Glasgow, much like Gennaro Gattuso did in his brief Ibrox stint.
Raul Meireles – Chelsea
The 73-cap international is a player easily of Barton’s equal. In fact you would be hard pushed to suggest Meireles is not the superior player compared to the Rangers flop.
At 33-years-old he is still fighting fit and a return to the UK following his exit from Fenerbahce in the summer has been mentioned.
He even upset Celtic fans in September last year when he suggested their fans would struggle to intimidate him, as reported by the Daily Record:
Raul Meireles at Fenerbahce
“I know Celtic is a big stadium and I know their atmosphere is well known.
“But if they think they can intimidate a Turkish team? All I can say is good luck.”
Gennaro Gattuso at Rangers
Meireles would bring everything Warburton hoped Barton would to the Rangers fold and would quickly endear himself to the Ibrox fans.
On a free transfer, Rangers would be pulling off a coup bringing this man in. Who knows? He could be the club’s next Gattuso.