Joe Worrall risked upsetting Rangers fans after he made comments that seemed to distance him from making his move to the club permanent.
The 21-year-old is on a season-long loan from Nottingham Forest but manager Steven Gerrard has said he would like to make his move permanent.
Asked about this Worrall said, as quoted in the Scottish Sun, “It’s obviously nice that the manager says things like that – but I’m on loan from Forest.
“Forest are my team, they employ me and pay my wages. It’s a loan for me.”
COMMENTARY
These aren’t the sort of words that fans like to hear, loan or no loan. We actually think that his words were just a bit unfortunate. Most players, when quizzed about making a move permanent, just say that it’s not up to them and that they’re flattered the manager wants him, etc. They also say how much they’re enjoying their time at the club and , oh, aren’t the fans great! Worrall said all of that but could probably do with a bit more media training. Saying “Forest are my team” is a pretty clear indication to fans of where your loyalties really lie, and Worrall hasn’t been playing so well for the Gers anyway. Judging by the criticism he’s been getting in the last few games, most fans would be quite happy to see him go back to Forest, maybe earlier than the end of the season, and to see Nikola Katic and Connor Goldson reprise their partnership at the heart of the defence from the start of the season. However, putting his form to one side, most Rangers fans saw this as the media just trying to twist his words to make a story.
Here are the best reactions from Rangers fans:
https://twitter.com/GraemeNotMurty/status/1059398068892852225
Need Katic back in the team with Worrall coming out with that?
— Radical Rangers (@RadicalGers) November 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/Fleitch14/status/1059252128416497664
He's being honest and I respect that, i think katic deserves more game time to develop and Worrall should play back up.
— Haggis (@thefamous1872) November 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/_do0v/status/1059225703806353414
https://twitter.com/jamiecurrie89/status/1059205403991523335
https://twitter.com/langan_yvonne/status/1059203217937129473
Can’t stop thinking about what Worrall said. Hate hate hate loan deals
— Casey?? (@smithy_1872) November 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/J7Heron/status/1059188758485053441
https://twitter.com/Chr1sMcLaughlin/status/1059120333826019328
https://twitter.com/Chr1sMcLaughlin/status/1059125068540887041
Looks like Joe Worrall have made a gigantic mistake saying “it’s just a loan to me”, Katic should be Goldson partner in defence anyway.
— 4-4-2 Loyal (@thechosenfew12) November 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/LoyalistLaudrup/status/1059129696951111681
https://twitter.com/daddybroon/status/1059146744611684352