Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers spoke highly of rumoured Rangers signing Adrian Mariappa while at Watford.
Crystal Palace’s Adrian Mariappa looks dejected after losing the FA Cup
The Daily Record reported on Saturday that Rangers are holding talks with free agent Adrian Mariappa.
Mariappa was released by Crystal Palace despite featuring in May’s FA Cup Final, and has since been in action with Jamaica at the Copa America.
The centre-back is known to Mark Warburton from his time coaching at Watford, when his manager was none other than current Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.
Rodgers has also managed new Rangers signing Jordan Rossiter, and also managed Rob Kiernan at Watford.
Brendan Rodgers as Watford Manager
Mariappa is a player though he clearly rates very highly, pushing through a contract extension for him at the Hornets in 2009.
After ensuring that deal went through, Rodgers spoke of his praise for Mariappa, telling SkySports:
“Adrian is someone I think who will grow over the next few years because of how we want to play. You’ll start to see things in him that you may not have seen before.
“I’ve enjoyed working with him because he’s a learner. I’m not interested in having players who think they know everything and don’t want to listen and learn.
“He’s the opposite to that, he’s hungry and has a thirst to learn every day, he loves Watford and being here.”
Crystal Palace’s Adrian Mariappa
Mariappa outlasted Rodgers at Watford, who controversially quit the club to join rivals Reading.
He has been reunited with him during his time at Liverpool when they faced Palace in the Premier League, and now it appears his protege could be set to line up against another of his teams north of the border.
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