After a breakout debut campaign that had Europe’s biggest clubs circling, Emmanuel Fernandez is being told by his own manager to raise his game again.
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Rangers head coach Derek McInnes has called on Super Eagles defender Emmanuel Fernandez to rediscover his best form following a shaky start to the 2026/27 season.
Fernandez has faced scrutiny after a series of costly errors, including conceding a penalty, in recent matches against Jagiellonia Bialystok and St Mirren, a stark contrast to the standards he set last season when he won Rangers’ Player of the Season award and earned a place in the Scottish Premiership’s PFA Team of the Season.
“Players Have To Take That On”
Speaking to the Scottish Sun, McInnes said real focus, concentration and application were needed to get the best out of any player, and that while Rangers have talented individuals with real potential, it is ultimately down to the players themselves to stay sharp and demand the best of themselves. He acknowledged that football doesn’t always come automatically, and that sometimes players simply have to work harder at their game.
A Player In Demand
Fernandez’s breakout debut season attracted heavy transfer interest from major European clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Rennes and Borussia Dortmund, with his valuation reportedly set at around £20 million. Galatasaray have also been credited with strong interest, reportedly encouraged by a recommendation from his Super Eagles teammate Victor Osimhen. The early season dip in form comes at a sensitive time, with continued transfer speculation only adding to the scrutiny on his performances heading into Nigeria’s next international window.
📌 Did You Know?
- Fernandez was born in London to Nigerian parents and chose to represent Nigeria over England, formally pledging his international future to the Super Eagles earlier this year.
- He wears the number 37 shirt in memory of his brother, who died at the age of 37, and is the youngest of eight children.
- Before breaking through at Rangers, Fernandez worked his way up through Brentford’s academy, Gillingham, Ramsgate, Barnet and Peterborough United, where he won the 2024/25 EFL Trophy.
- He scored on his first Super Eagles start, netting in a 2-2 draw against Jordan just days after making his international debut against Iran.
- Fernandez signed for Rangers from Peterborough United, a League One club, making his rise into a Player of the Season and Super Eagles regular especially rapid.
- Reported interest from Galatasaray was said to be boosted by a personal recommendation from Victor Osimhen, who has spent two seasons at the Turkish club.
