Jose Goncalves: Bruno Aguiar is good enough to join Old Firm

Gary Ralston

JOSE GONCALVES has tipped Bruno Aguiar to play himself into the big time now he is finally over the injury that caused a rift with a rival at Hearts.

Pedro Mendes has been the Portuguese name on the lips of most SPL observers this season following his £3million move from Portsmouth to Rangers.

But former Jambo Goncalves reckons Aguiar is so influential he could have the Old Firm, Premiership clubs and even outfits from Spain vying for his signature when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Countrymen Mendes and Aguiar will come face to face at lunchtime today for the first time in Scottish football as Rangers bid to keep their title ambitions on track and the Jambos attempt to bolster their hopes of European football next year.

Former Portugal Under-21 star Goncalves, now on loan at FC Nurnberg, will tune into the Setanta clash online and can't wait to see the result when the central midfield rivals go head to head.

Mendes, a Champions League winner and full Portuguese international, may boast the more impressive pedigree but Goncalves insists Aguiar can go on and shine now he's free of injury for the first time in 18 months after three ankle operations.

Full-back Goncalves has lifted the lid on the training ground bust-up between Aguiar and former team-mate Julien Brellier that left the former Benfica star lying in a heap and their relationship in ruins.

Goncalves said: "It was a very bad tackle on the training ground. We were playing a game and Bruno had already made a pass when Julien came in from the side with a late tackle that broke his foot.

"The players who were watching knew it was a bad tackle and maybe Julien was a little crazy because Bruno was playing in his position at the time.

"The rest of the guys were not happy with it but no one knew it was an injury that would eventually keep Bruno out for 18 months. We thought it would be one or two weeks.

"Bruno was very angry with Julien but what could he do? It happened on the football field but Julien didn't even say anything about the tackle.

"Bruno told me he was waiting for Julien to say sorry but that apology never came.

"They did speak to each other afterwards but it wasn't the same. The relationship between them was never as good as it had been before the tackle.

"Some guys would have gone crazy and got really angry with the guy who put in such a bad tackle in the first place but to Bruno's credit he focused only on himself and making his return to fitness.

"I know how unhappy he was visiting that physio's room every day but he stayed cool, worked hard and is now back in the team and showing his qualities."

The Vladimir Romanov project is littered with the debris of Tynecastle duds who have barely survived beyond their debuts, from Ricardas Beniusis to Arkadiusz Klimek.

But Romanov has also picked some plums, including Aguiar, who was snapped up in January 2006 after falling out of favour at first love Benfica.

Aguiar played 18 times as the Portuguese giants lifted the title in 2005 and Goncalves is convinced he'll be heading off to a club of similar stature again in the summer.

He added: "Unfortunately for Hearts, I don't think Bruno will sign a new contract at the end of the season.

"He came to Hearts three years ago because he wanted to improve himself physically and British football gives players that opportunity.

Not everyone from Portugal can adjust but he has proved his comfort with this style.

"He had a good reputation in Portugal and Hearts fans are again being reminded of his qualities now he is back from injury. I really like him in that No.10 position or just off the striker because he has eyes to see a pass or a run and is two-footed.

"I believe he has the potential to play for Rangers or Celtic and the coming months give him the chance to remind the coaches at those clubs just how he can play.

"He could also perform in the Premiership or even Spain. If he hadn't picked up that injury he would probably be away by now.

"He's still only 27. Bruno has played at every international level to under-21 and I sincerely believe he can still go on and win a full cap for Portugal."

Mendes already has that T-shirt and Goncalves feels warmth towards the Rangers midfield player, whom he met for the first time 18 months ago in the company of Aguiar in London.

He recalled: "Portugal played Brazil in a friendly at the Emirates and we went down to watch with tickets provided by Simao Sabroasa, Bruno's former Benfica team-mate who is now with Atletico Madrid.

"We also met Pedro at the team hotel. He was not involved with the squad at that time and we all took the train to the game together.

"Pedro and Bruno share similarities as players and also as gentlemen. Pedro has a warm personality, a good character and is well liked on and off the field in Portugal. I've long admired his qualities as a player with Porto and also in the Premiership.

"If you give Pedro one chance in and around the penalty box, especially from a free-kick, he will kill you. He also has a good eye and range of passing and I think he's atremendous addition to Scottish football."

Goncalves, 23, hopes to make his move to FC Nurnberg permanent in the summer but it depends on their promotion to the Bundesliga and they currently sit third in the German first division.

They played Osnabruck last night, so with this afternoon free he will crank up his laptop and tune into an arena he knows so well.

Goncalves said: "There's no place like Tynecastle when it is full to capacity. I'd love to stay with Nurnberg but I also miss Hearts and Edinburgh. The atmosphere at the ground is crazy, especially against Hibs and the Old Firm. It will be an open match as both teams are so confident.

"Hearts have won their last four and Rangers are a top team always. I can see a lot of goals and, with guys like Bruno and Pedro, there's a lot of quality. I won't predict the score but I'd like Hearts to win."

'I don't think he will sign a new contract'

Taken from the Daily Record