The Ecuadorean midfielder, 24, has “verbally agreed” a loan-to-buy deal to bring him back to South America after a disappointing six month stint at Rangers.

Arriving in the summer from LAFC in the MLS, there were big expectations surrounding the World Cup star which he has not met in Glasgow.

Reports had suggested an earlier loan-to-buy offer from Rizespor could eventually be worth £2m to Rangers, meaning we expect the club to bank a profit on the transfer.

Jose Cifuentes to Cruzeiro delayed by Carnival

Rangers fans monitoring the transfer may well be wondering what the hold up is with Jose Cifuentes still technically an Ibrox player as the links to Cruzeiro persist.

Now, reports in Brazil have claimed that there have been delays in the bureaucratic registration of any transfer due to Carnival season in the country.

As explained by No Ataque, Jose Cifuentes will not arrive in Belo Horizonte, Brazil to sign the contract with Cruzeiro until after Carnival, which runs from the 9th of February until the 17th.

It’s claimed in the Brazilian report that Jose Cifuentes will actually leave Scotland on Friday February 9th and go back to Ecuador to visit his family before moving to Brazil.

Not expected to arrive in Brazil until Thursday the 15th of February, the deal to bring Cifu to Cruzeiro is only set to be concluded somewhere around the 18th of the month, or 12 days from now.

Brazil’s transfer window is currently open until March 7th, which means even then there is no pressure to complete a deal immediately with the window open for over a month yet.

Rangers disappointment over midfielder signing

When Rangers fans hear the name Jose Cifuentes in the future – no matter what the Ecuadorean goes on to do in the game – it will be tinged with disappointment.

There was much excitement amongst the fans following the signing of the midfielder but after 20 matches the ex-LAFC star has done little to convince supporters.

Having not been seen since the 3-2 Europa League win over Real Betis, competition in the middle of the park is fierce with John Lundstram, Nicolas Raskin, Ryan Jack, Mohamed Diomande, and even Dujon Serling ahead of Cifu in the pecking order.

You’ve got to feel that this is something of a backwards step for Cifuentes, whose brief foray into European football will not be remembered fondly.