Gary Lineker: Rangers wanted me in the 80s...

[ian1964 10,826]

... but I chose Barcelona.

 

GARY LINEKER has revealed Graeme Souness wanted him to be part of his 1980s Rangers revolution.

 

The legendary England striker admitted the thought of joining England team-mates Terry Butcher and Chris Woods at Ibrox crossed his mind.

 

But the lure of global giants Barcelona — and warmer weather — proved too strong.

 

Lineker said: “There were a lot of rumours at the time and I know there was interest from Rangers.

 

“It wasn’t as if Terry Butcher tried to tap me up or anything but the interest was there, that’s for sure.

 

“There was a lot of talk at the time but I don’t think it ever got to the stage of official talks.

 

“Then Barcelona came in and I went there instead — which was a lot warmer for a start!

 

“Barcelona was a fabulous experience for me and, after all, they are one of the three biggest clubs in the world so it was great to play for them.”

 

The brief link with Rangers, however, has left Lineker with a keen interest in the Scottish game and he was delighted to see Mark Warburton take Rangers back into the top flight.

 

He said: “Mark Warburton has done a great job and, let’s face it, Scottish football needs that rivalry between Celtic and Rangers.

 

“They are on the way back and clearly doing well.”

 

English football is planning a shake-up with a new lower division and more clubs.

 

That has yet again ignited talk of the Old Firm heading south.

 

Lineker said: “They’ve been talking about that for years.

 

“I don’t know what the view is in Scotland or what it would do to the Scottish League but they would add a lot as two big clubs.

 

“They are well supported, there is a massive interest and big rivalries.

 

“It just depends where they come in at. There is no way they could jump straight into the Premier League.”

 

Lineker also reckons that Scottish football is in for a treat with Brendan Rodgers taking charge at Celtic.

 

He said: “Brendan is a good appointment for Celtic. He has done well wherever he has been.

 

”It petered out at Liverpool at the end but that happens with every manager everywhere.

 

“He is quite clearly a good coach and he plays a nice brand of footaball which I am sure the Celtic fans will enjoy.”

 

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/7184539/Gary-Lineker-Rangers-wanted-me-in-the-80s-but-I-chose-Barcelona.html