Daniel Candeias opens up on Rangers exit, criticises Mark Allen

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Rangers allowed Daniel Candeias to leave Ibrox over the summer.

Ex-Rangers winger Daniel Candeias has told Zero Zero in Portugal that his teammates didn’t want him to leave – but Mark Allen was a huge factor in his decision to go.

Candeias joined the Gers from Benfica in 2017, reuniting with Pedro Caixinha having previously worked together at Nacional in Portugal.

The wide man impressed during his two years at Ibrox, becoming a popular player with the fans with some committed performances as well as a strong record of 14 goals and 25 assists.

Despite featuring prominently under Steven Gerrard last season, Candeias was sold to Turkish side Genclerbirligi over the summer, with Rangers landing just £250,000 for him according to The Scottish Sun.

That cheap deal surprised many given how much he’d played under Caixinha, Gerrard and Graeme Murty, but his move to Turkey went through without a hitch.

Just days after notching three goals and two assists against Alanyaspor, Candeias has been speaking about his departure ahead of today’s meeting between Porto and Rangers, two of his former clubs.

Candeias has admitted that Gerrard didn’t actually want him to go, urging him to stay at Ibrox, whilst claiming that his teammates begged him to stay on his final day with the club.

However, Candeias blamed former director of football Mark Allen for his exit, admitting he had heard that Allen wanted to sell him despite his good form, and decided to go somewhere else to feel ‘cherished’.

“Yes, since it was known that I could leave, [Gerrard] called me and said that for him, stay because it was important for the team and I was important in the team,” said Candeias. “On the last day I trained, my colleagues didn’t want me to leave. They said I had to stay with them, they wanted me there. But I felt from the sporting director…I knew of previous things.”

“After being named the best player of the season by the fans, I heard talk that they could let me leave and I decided to take another career path. [Gerrard] said he would help me with whatever I needed. I have nothing to say about Gerrard, he was always sincere and honest with me. I just have to compliment the club and the fans because, until now, I feel cherished by them,” he added.