Former Porto ace Benni McCarthy has claimed Rangers’ new signing Bruno Alves is a world-class defender and will make a difference in the Old Firm Derbies.
The 39-year-old also stated Alves will be crucial in the Gers’ Old Firm derbies next term, and that he will will add personality to the dressing room.
Rangers confirmed the signing of Alves on their official website on Wednesday afternoon, making him manager Pedro Caixinha’s first signing of the summer.
McCarthy was a team mate of Alves at Porto, and he told the Scottish Sun that he is a fine signing for the Glasgow giants.
He said: “Bruno has more personality and character than Rangers have had in the last few years. [They] are signing a world-class defender. He is that good — and he will be right up for the fight.
“Bruno is going to grab some balls in that Rangers dressing room and get them really up for it. His team-mates will say ‘If a foreigner can show passion like this and be up for the battle, why can’t we?’
“I watched a few of the Old Firm games last season and it was really just a walk in the park for Celtic. Now, with characters like Bruno on board, Rangers will put up more of a fight.”
Celtic won five of the six Old Firm derbies in the 2016/17 campaign, including two 5-1 thrashings, and the best the Gers could manage was a 1-1 draw.
The Hoops also finished as champions of the Scottish Championship, a massive 39 points ahead of the Ibrox club, who finished third.
Rangers signed Alves from Italian outfit Cagliari, whom he has been a mainstay for this term, making 37 appearances in all competitions.
At 35, he is a vastly experienced centre-back and has played more than 100 league and cup games for Porto, Fenerbahce and Zenit St Petersburg.
He has also been capped by Portugal by 85 times, and was part of the 2016 European Championship winning team.