‘So bad’: Since the Rangers trade collapsed, the struggling star is ‘unrecognisable’.

Jefte Vital’s performance is undoubtedly lacking; since his January transfer to Scottish Premiership contenders Rangers was called off, the left-back for APOEL Nicosia has become “unrecognisable.”

Not too long ago, reporters in his native Brazil asked Jefte to characterize his style of play. He spoke about his “skill” and “creativity,” and he also revealed his affinity for Real Madrid legend Marcelo.

But his last few shows have been more miserable than Marcelo.

The Fluminense loanee was unable to join Philippe Clement’s championship-chasing Rangers team in January because APOEL was hesitant to allow the 20-year-old to move out of his temporary residence in Cyprus a few months earlier than planned.

And Jefte, who apologized to APOEL after that winter saga, is obviously not the same player who took Cypriot football by storm on the other side of Christmas, regardless of the reason—whether that abandoned switch to Ibrox has taken its toll or whether the explanation is something as simple as a dip in form.

Rangers nearly signed Jefte Vital.

After APOEL’s 0-0 draw with Anorthosis last weekend, Goal wrote, “We have never seen Jefte so bad.” Only the home team’s inefficiency in the final third prevented the out-of-form full-back from receiving more criticism.

“Jefte Vital was really awful.”

Shoot and Goal, a publication located in Cyprus, contends that Jefte’s downfall has been ongoing for some time. It dates back to the end of January, in actuality. Coincidentally, or not, Rangers’ agreement to terms with Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense did not prevent his possible £400,000 move to Glasgow from falling through.

Shoot and Goal contend that “Jefte has been unrecognizable for the last month.”

“The man that piqued Rangers’ intense interest near the end of the January transfer window is unrelated to the Brazilian full-back. To perform at his acknowledged levels, Jefte needs to step up his game significantly.

Rangers will probably need a left-back again in the summer due to Borna Barisic’s expiring contract, even if Ridvan Yilmaz may have sealed his long-term future at Ibrox with a succession of excellent performances.

It should go without saying that in order to avoid more disappointment during another transfer window, Jefte will need to make quick progress.

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