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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Ewan Paton

I turned down Celtic transfer chance before choosing Rangers

Kemar Roofe has revealed that he rejected the chance to join Celtic just ONE WEEK before he moved to Rangers.

The frontman spent four years at Ibrox before leaving in 2024.

He went on to star during the club's 55th title win in the 2020/21 season.

He also lifted the Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup during his career in Glasgow.

But things could've been much different for Roofe. 

And it all hinged on his decision over his next move while he was playing in Belgium's top-flight five years ago.

"It was Celtic first," the 32-year-old said to Si Ferry, Andy Halliday and Paul Slane Open Goal. "Celtic asked my agent about it but I said no because my focus was just to play for Anderlecht. 

"A week before that I'd spoken to Vincent Kompany (then manager) and he said 'We still want you here'.

"In my head, I was going to play the full season again at Anderlecht. So, I said no.

"Then about a week later, I got a phone call from Vincent Kompany saying Rangers have put in a bid, and the club have accepted. 

"The difference was Rangers actually put in a bid. 

"As soon as the bid came in, the club was in a financial situation because of Covid, so they said yes straight away. 

"Then it was up to me to say whether I'd go to Rangers or stay at Anderlecht."


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It was Steven Gerrard who signed the attacker back in 2020. 

And Halliday asked if he remembered his first chat with the then Ibrox gaffer.

He responded: "Yeah. 'Come in, be our number nine and win the league'.

"It [Gerrard] definitely helped."

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