David Bates caused a shock when he left Scottish Premiership powerhouses Rangers last summer and he’s now starring in Germany.
Maybe David Bates made the right decision leaving Rangers last summer after all.
The talented centre-back made great strides at Ibrox in the 2017/18 and looked set to be a major part of the club’s future, only to leave when his contract expired in the summer.
Bates then moved to Germany, taking the surprise decision to join Hamburg just weeks after they were relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in their history. No wonder eyebrows were raised.
“It was all about feeling appreciation from a club and the way Hamburg went about it. They came over and watched my games and they were always talking,” the former Ross County youngster told the Scottish Sun, explaining why he decided that Hamburg was the place for him.
“They showed how much they wanted me.”
Hamburg certainly showed plenty of belief in the 22-year-old and they have been rewarded with a series of fabulous performances. Bates has started 17 of Hamburg’s 21 league games and it’s fair to say his impression has been hugely positive.
Hannes Wolf’s side look set to make their stay in the second tier a short one, sitting four points clear at the top of the table with an immediate return to the Bundesliga in their sights. If promotion is achieved, Bates will be an immediate hero at a club who have suffered far too many lows in recent years.
He is already a bit of a cult favourite, having been referred to as the ‘Ginger Ramos’ by fans and team-mates alike for his apparent likeness to the Real Madrid superstar, as reported by Bundesliga.com. High praise indeed.
Those who questioned why Bates left Rangers last summer have been silenced for good.
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