Rabbi Matondo is intent on altering the false perception he feels developed around him during his time at Rangers after returning to Scottish football with Hibernian.
The 26-year-old Wales winger joined Gers from Schalke in 2022 and made 70 appearances – but just 26 as a starter – before leaving in March of this year to sign for Brann.
After an unfulfilling move to Norway that brought just four substitute appearances, Matondo is back in Scotland and eager to give a true reflection of his ability having felt he did not properly showcase himself at Ibrox.
“I had three-and-a-half, four years at Rangers and I enjoyed it but there’s probably some unfinished business at my end,” he said on Friday.
“I feel like people talk as if I didn’t do anything at Rangers, and that’s the narrative. But, of course, there were a lot of ups and downs with injuries.
“And when you come back from injury, you’re having to get that consistency, that rhythm and stuff. I feel like there were times when I was playing and I was playing well.
“But when you get hit with injury and then you come back and try and get back in the team, it’s not quite the same.
“The unfinished business is not to do with Rangers. It’s just to do with, in terms of myself, trying to be as fit as I can, stay injury-free and play football.
Ex-Rangers player Rabbi Matondo can’t wait to get started with his new team Hibernian
“Maybe the narrative is that I’m this player or that player, ‘he doesn’t have this’ or ‘he doesn’t have that’. I want to prove that I do have what it takes to succeed in Scotland, and that’s my aim this season.”
Having earned a deal with Hibs until the end of the season after joining them on a trial basis at their recent training camp in La Manga, Matondo could make his debut in Saturday’s match away to Dundee United.
“It’s been a long time since I started a game and been in a club environment on a day-to-day basis,” he said. “But I’m raring and ready to go so we’ll see what the manager decides.”
The trip to Tannadice also marks Hibs’ first under the charge of their new Dutch manager Marink Reedijk, who has been working intensively with his players since succeeding David Gray just over a fortnight ago.
“We did everything in the two weeks which we wanted to do and even more than I thought was possible,” said the the former Beveren boss, reflecting on what he described as a “pre-season on steroids”.
“It was very intense. A lot to do, to discover, but it was really good. I think we got the ideas across properly. We got to know the players, staff and club a bit better by the day. Long days, but very fruitful days.
“But will it take time? Yes. Do you have time? No, because I want to win the first match. The longer we are here, the better the ideas will come to life.”
