Premier League duo Newcastle United and Crystal Palace wanted Aaron Ramsey but the prospect of European football convinced him to choose Rangers instead, speaking to the club’s official website.
The disbelief, following Ramsey’s most unexpected of deadline-day moves to Ibrox, has now given way to debate.
Is this the most high-profile, most transformative, most ambitious statement signing made by any Scottish club since Paul Gascoigne sent shockwaves rippling from Rome to the River Clyde nearly 30 years ago?
Frank de Boer may have something to say about that. But the legendary Dutch defender was 33, nearly 34, when he arrived from Galatasaray in 2004.
Henrik Larsson, meanwhile, was hardly a household name in Scotland’s second city when Celtic snapped up a dreadlocked dynamo after a run of eight goals in 41 games at Feyenoord.
Ramsey, in contrast, is a player in his prime. He arrives, not from a second-rate league, but from Serie A and Juventus. He started a 3-0 Champions League victory over Barcelona 16 months ago. And, just last summer, he was the driving force behind Wales’ run to the knock-out stages of the European Championships.
Why did Aaron Ramsey choose Rangers?
“I am really pleased to be joining a club like Rangers,” says Ramsey, having joined on a short-term loan deal.
“There is so much to look forward to between now and May.”
The former Arsenal ace rejected relegation-threatened Burnley and Newcastle United earlier in the January window (Mail).
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, a Crystal Palace side in the market for a goalscoring midfielder held talks too.
But while a return to the Premier League must have held some appeal, the chance to play European football again was an opportunity Ramsey just couldn’t ignore.
“I had a number of offers on the table, but none matched the magnitude of this club,” the 31-year-old adds. “With European football and the chance to play in front of 50,000 fans every other week.”
Newcastle might have spent more money than any other club in Europe last month, investing almost £100 million on Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn, Matt Targett, Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood.
But until they are climbing the table, transforming from perennial strugglers to Champions League hopefuls, then even a club with more money than God will find it difficult to make the most of their financial might.
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