Jefte Vital’s form is clearly leaving a lot to be desired with the APOEL Nicosia left-back ‘unrecognisable’ since his botched January deal to Scottish Premiership contenders Rangers.

When asked to define his style of play by reporters back home in Brazil not so long ago, Jefte highlighted his ‘skill’ and ‘creativity’, while opening up on his passion for Real Madrid star Marcelo.

His recent performances, however, have been less Marcelo and more sad.

The Fluminense loanee was denied the chance to join Philippe Clement’s title-chasing Rangers ranks in January, APOEL reluctant to let the 20-year-old leave his temporary Cypriot home a few months ahead of schedule.

And whatever the reason – whether that aborted switch to Ibrox has taken it’s toll or whether the explanation is something as simple as a dip in form – Jefte, who apologised to APOEL after that winter saga, is clearly not the same player who took Cypriot football by storm on the other side of Christmas.

“We have never seen Jefte so bad,” Goal reported following APOEL’s 0-0 draw with Anorthosis last Saturday, only the home side’s wastefulness in the final third saving the out-of-form full-back from more criticism.

“We have never seen Jefte so bad,” Goal reported following APOEL’s 0-0 draw with Anorthosis last Saturday, only the home side’s wastefulness in the final third saving the out-of-form full-back from more criticism.

“Jefte Vital was so bad.”

Cyprus-based publication Shoot & Goal, meanwhile, suggest that Jefte’s downturn has actually been going on for a while now. In reality, it can be dated back to the end of January. Coincidentally or not, that was when his potential £400,000 move to Glasgow collapsed despite Rangers finalizing terms with Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense.

‘Unrecognisable’

“Jefte has been unrecognisable for the last month,” Shoot and Goal contend.

“The Brazilian full-back is no relation to the player who sparked Rangers’ strong interest towards the end of the January transfer window. Jefte has to boost his performance a lot to achieve his known levels.”

While Ridvan Yilmaz may have secured himself a long-term future at Ibrox with a succession of superb games, Borna Barisic’s expiring contract mean Rangers will likely be in hte market for a left-back again in the summer.

It almost goes without saying that Jefte will need to turn things around – and fast – if he is to avoid more disappointment in another transfer window.

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