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Of all the factors which contributed to Russell Martin’s demise at Rangers, the folly of ostracising Nico Raskin from his squad was among the most bewildering.
That act of managerial self-harm became all the more difficult to comprehend when Raskin produced the kind of elite level performance he contributed for his country this week.
The midfielder’s outstanding display in Belgium’s 4-2 win over Wales in Cardiff on Monday night combined tenacity with technical excellence as he helped Rudi Garcia’s side take a huge step towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Belgian media were positively drooling in their praise for Raskin, who earned just his seventh senior cap for the Red Devils but is now regarded as one of the key figures in their hopes of making a major impact in North America next summer.
Operating alongside Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana in the deeper midfield roles in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Raskin provided exemplary support for the star-studded trio of Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne and Leandro Trossard in front of them.
‘It has been a fairy tale for me to be part of my national team,’ said Raskin afterwards. ‘Winning the ball is in my football DNA. The manager asked me before the game to bring a bit more balance to the team.
Nico Raskin, above left, beats Harry Wilson to the ball during Belgium's win over Wales
Raskin remains a fans' favourite at Rangers but is now on Tottenham's radar
‘He has confidence in me. Then, at half time, he spoke to me and asked me to play a bit more football in the second half. And I think the team was in control after that.’
It speaks volumes that Raskin is not only holding his own in such lofty company, but was even being rated by many Belgian pundits as the team’s most influential player on the night
On top of that, it underlines why whoever succeeds Martin in the Ibrox hot seat would be wise to use him as the foundation stone of the team rebuild which is so clearly required.
Rangers supporters certainly need no convincing of Raskin’s ability. He has become a firm favourite with them since his arrival in a £1.75million move from Standard Liege on Michael Beale’s watch in January 2023.
When Beale was sacked and replaced by Philippe Clement later that year, it was anticipated that Raskin would flourish under his compatriot.
Yet there was a curious period when even Clement appeared uncertain of his value to the Rangers team, irritating fans by selecting the likes of Tom Lawrence and Kieran Dowell ahead of him.
Raskin eventually reclaimed a more regular role and, in a troubled 2024-25 campaign for Rangers which saw Clement dismissed and Barry Ferguson take the reins on a temporary basis, he won the club’s Player of the Year award.
It was Ferguson who first shone a light on how Raskin’s combative nature on the pitch is matched by his attitude off it.
Russell Martin had a public falling-out with Raskin which contributed to the manager's demise at Ibrox
Midfielder Raskin demonstrates the combative style against Falkirk which has won over the Rangers support
‘We’ve had a few arguments,’ said Ferguson as he assessed Raskin’s contributions towards the end of the season.
‘But I don’t mind that, Nico’s a good boy. He’s got an opinion and I don’t mind people with opinions. I just think if he works on things we speak about, he’s got a real chance of playing at the very top’.
The precise details of why Raskin subsequently fell out of favour with Martin have never really been revealed, but it’s understood that the player’s willingness to speak his mind, often in the bluntest of terms, had a negative impact on their relationship.
The first sign that all was not well between Martin and Raskin came when, after starting the first three games of the season, he was dropped to the bench and replaced by summer signing Joe Rothwell.
Martin suggested that Raskin’s head may have been turned by close-season speculation which linked him with potential moves to Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Besiktas.
‘I think that’s affected his approach,’ claimed the manager. ‘Not in terms of professionalism and stuff, but he’s a young man.’
Martin insisted he had no desire to sell Raskin but, despite initially praising his response to being dropped, he then stunned Rangers fans by leaving him out of the squad altogether for the first Old Firm game of the campaign at Ibrox at the end of August.
Raskin then joined up with the Belgian squad and scored his first goal for his country in their 6-0 victory over Kazakhstan in Brussels.
Nico Raskin was Belgium's most influential player in their 4-2 victory in Cardiff
Raskin celebrates a goal for Rangers during the League Cup win over Hibs at Ibrox
Yet Martin maintained his increasingly bizarre stance, again leaving Raskin out of the Rangers squad for the home game against Hearts after that international break. Despite stating the issue between them was ‘resolved’, Martin added that Raskin still had bridges to build.
‘He has a duty to make sure that he earns the trust of all his other team-mates and the coaching staff and the staff in the building to help us win football matches,’ said Martin.
The 2-0 defeat to Hearts in September did nothing to strengthen Martin’s position, which looked all the more risible when Raskin finally returned to the side the following week and scored in a Man of the Match display as Hibs were beaten 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.
It’s safe to assume Raskin shed no tears when Martin was put out of his misery and sacked after the 1-1 draw at Falkirk on October 5.
As Rangers try to pick up the pieces of a sorry season, Raskin’s value can no longer be ignored. Tottenham are the latest club to be credited with an interest in the 24-year-old whose current Ibrox contract is due to expire in the summer of 2027.
The Rangers hierarchy would certainly enhance their approval ratings among the fanbase if they could persuade Raskin to sign a new deal.
Based on the current trajectory of his reputation, however, it seems more likely they will have to cash in on the player for what should be a healthy profit next summer. Rangers should enjoy him while they can.
