Thomas Galdame, a Copa America standout, signs a shocking three-year contract, and the Rangers learn his fate.

A number of Latin American football players have been linked to Rangers this summer. The team has already moved to sign Brazilian left-back Jefte, and the extension of a contract for Colombian winger Oscar Cortes has been well received. It’s a region known for producing elite talent, and Rangers fans found left-sided Chilean defender Thomas Galdames to be an intriguing option. Before the 25-year-old defender headed to the Copa America, teams from Belgium were reportedly vying for the 25-year-old defender’s signature. However, after the competition was completed this past weekend, Galdames seemed to have made up his mind, as the player is finally scheduled to depart Godoy Cruz in Argentina.

Galdames signs a three-year contract.
The more tangible interest in Belgium last week was something Rangers supporters who have been following the Thomas Galdames story would have noticed.

Reports had stated Royal Antwerp were leading the pursuit for Galdames in Europe whilst Rangers’ interest was supposed to have faded.
But Thomas Galdames isn’t going to be going to Belgium this summer after all; as of this writing, his move to Russia is supposedly all but confirmed.

En Cancha, a tabloid from Chile, reports that Galdames and PFC Krylia Sovetov Samara of the Russian Premier League have reached a three-year agreement.

The defender, who played goalkeeping for the team from 2005 to 2007, is the second Chilean to play for the club after fellow former Union Española great Eduardo Lobos.

Rangers on the hunt for a defender transfer? If the deal goes through as planned, it will put an end to yet another Rangers pursuit. The links to Thomas Galdames first surfaced when Rangers missed out on signing Panamanian center-back Jose Cordoba. Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement moved quickly to sign Clinton Nsiala from AC Milan, but the French defender is not expected to be a first-team starter. It has left some fans perplexed about the situation as Jose Cordoba—who was given the Ibrox treatment at the end of last season—would have been signed as a key first-team player.