The transfer of Couhaib Driouech to Rangers ultimately failed, despite PSV Eindhoven and the Scottish club having reached an agreement estimated at eight million euros, or about seven million pounds sterling. According to ESPN Netherlands and The Scotsman, the operation was abandoned due to a disagreement regarding the duration of the Moroccan international’s unavailability.
Arriving in Scotland with a slight injury, the 24-year-old winger attended Thursday night’s draw between Rangers and Jagiellonia Białystok (1-1) at Ibrox. This match confirmed the Glasgow club’s elimination from the Europa League, with an aggregate score of 3-2. Driouech was set to become Rangers’ tenth summer recruit, but medical examinations led the Scottish leaders to withdraw from the deal in favor of players who were immediately available.
Rangers believe that the Moroccan could remain unavailable for about six weeks, while PSV anticipates a much quicker return. Earnest Stewart finds it difficult to understand this decision, as Driouech was supposed to sign a four-year contract and was the Scottish club’s first choice for his position. “It’s just a slight injury. If they were offering him such a long contract, they could still have benefited from him for two hundred weeks,” said the PSV technical director.
Stewart also revealed that the player was left in uncertainty for 48 hours before the definitive abandonment of the operation. “Couhaib is deeply affected. We are now recovering a disillusioned player, and that is not pleasant for anyone,” he lamented. Driouech, who was in the final phase of his rehabilitation before his departure, must now return to Eindhoven.
Peter Bosz confirmed that the Moroccan international would not participate in the match on Sunday against Excelsior. However, the PSV coach wishes to reintegrate him as soon as possible. “My message will be that he becomes one of my players again. We need to win matches together, and I will also need him,” he explained, while acknowledging that Driouech must first digest this significant disappointment.
