Rangers

Defoe: I rejected Palace for Rangers

|
Image for Defoe: I rejected Palace for Rangers

Jermain Defoe has revealed he snubbed interest from Premier League club Crystal Palace to join Rangers.

The striker agreed the terms of an 18-month loan to the Glasgow giants from Bournemouth last weekend, arriving at the same time as fellow new boy Steven Davis.

Speaking to Sky Sports News from Rangers’ winter training camp in Tenerife, as quoted by the personal Twitter account of correspondent Keith Downie, Defoe explained that he wanted to try something different by joining Rangers and to “be part of something special”.

OPINION

Bears still rubbing their eyes at the signing of Defoe nearly a week after he joined will be further heartened that he snubbed the chance to return to his native London in order to make his blockbuster move to Ibrox. It is a deal that has thrust the spotlight on Scottish football and given an exciting new dimension to an already highly-anticipated title tussle between the two Glasgow giants of Rangers and Celtic. For Defoe, who has a Premier League and international goal record of which to be proud, his motivations are clear. He wanted a fresh challenge, something new at a club where there is high expectation, a massive fan base and the potential of bookending a glittering career with a title media. Should Defoe play a key role in spearheading Steven Gerrard’s side to the title, he will go down in Ibrox folklore, and that should surely be worth more than simply keeping Palace in the Premier League.

Share this article