Gerry Carlile has claimed that Kyle Lafferty was not against to joining Celtic before he moved to Rangers in 2008.
Rangers Kyle Lafferty applauds fans
Kyle Lafferty was not against to joining Celtic before switching to Ibox, according to his former agent, Gerry Carlile.
The 29-year-old striker joined the Gers from Burnley in 2008 and spent four seasons at Ibrox, where he scored 38 goals in 138 games.
Carlile recalls that the former Rangers striker was open to a move to Celtic after he visited his family home in the village of Kesh.
The Belfast-born deal maker claims that he was sent by the then Celtic chiefs to pursue Lafferty’s signature.
Carlile says that he found Rangers merchandise all over the wall in Lafferty’s house and thought it could be a ‘disaster’.
He adds that the Northern Ireland international did not say “no” to Celtic at the time. However, he ended up signing for Rangers.
Kyle Lafferty – Rangers
Lafferty himself later admitted that Celtic had shown an interest in him but for him Rangers was always the first priority.
“Got a phone call from Celtic, they asked me if I could help Celtic to sign Kyle Lafferty,” said Carlile to BBC Sport NI.
“So I get in my car, drove straight to Kesh a few hours away from Belfast, stopped in a café in Kesh and asked where Kyle Lafferty’s family lived.
“And they told me take a right, take a left and there’s the house. So I waited for four hours, Kyle Lafferty’s sister came along.
“I said, ‘I’m a football agent. Celtic want to sign your brother, can I come into the house? I get in, there’s Rangers things all over the wall and I thought to myself, ‘This is going to be a disaster!’
“We actually got him on the phone. And erm…I don’t want to give too many secrets away but he didn’t exactly say no to Celtic at the time!
“But he ended up signing for Rangers of course, his first love.”
The striker is all set to quit Norwich City this summer and has admitted recently that he would love the chance to return to Ibrox.
The boyhood Gers fan was criticised by the Ibrox faithful for ditching the club during Rangers’ financial troubles. However, Lafferty says given a chance he would love to go back and do a job for them.
Kyle Lafferty – Rangers
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