Rangers star hits back at 'gloating' Celtic fans and discusses Ibrox future

Leon Balogun admits he wants to stay at Rangers while highlighting the ‘gloating’ the Scottish Premiership champions have been subjected to over the years from Celtic supporters, speaking to Mainz’s official website.

Celtic might be chuckling all the way to the title but Giovanni van Bronckhorst and co may have the last laugh.

Rangers are potentially just 90 minutes away from a Europa League final. The Glasgow also took some measure of revenge over their Old Firm neighbours, defeating Ange Postecoglou’s side in dramatic fashion at Hampden Park in the Scottish Cup semi-final last month.

“Rangers have had to listen to a lot of crap in recent years,” says Balogun, a key part of Steven Gerrard’s all-conquering side from 2020/21.

“(We) have had to endure a lot of gloating, especially from Celtic.”

As far as the former Mainz, Brighton and Wigan defender is concerned, however, all that adversity just makes the successes taste that little bit sweeter.

“The pride is so great. The fans here are ready – and that’s not an empty phrase – to give their last shirt for the club,” Balogun adds.

Celtic vs Rangers; A battle for Old Firm superiority

Like Ibrox team-mates Connor Goldson, Allan McGregor and Steven Davis, Balogun is due to become a free-agent in July. The experienced Nigeria international is clearly not adverse to signing a contract extension however.

MORE RANGERS STORIES

“I feel incredibly comfortable in the club (and) I have a good relationship with the fans. I’ve really never spent so much time at a club,” says the journeyman centre-back.

“I live this club (and) I have a very close relationship with everyone who works around the team. In the end, I think my way of playing football fits in here too.”

If Rangers plan to move on from Balogun, however, the impending arrival of John Souttar from Hearts should help ease the transition.

Vitesse Arnhem captain Danilho Doekhi admits that Rangers are keen to sign him too.