Jermain Defoe has revealed that the atmosphere at Ibrox was a key factor in helping him decide on a move to Rangers.
The veteran striker joined the Gers in January, and has suggested that the prospect of playing in front of the fierce Glasgow faithful was a huge draw.
Speaking to Sky Sports, as quoted by the Daily Record, he said: “We have the same agent, Struan who is a Rangers fan, and I remember him phoning me at home in Bournemouth.
“He said ‘put the game on’. It was a European game here. I watched the second half. I watched the atmosphere.
“To be honest I remember phoning back and saying ‘Stru make it happen’.”
OPINION
Defoe has played on some of the biggest stages in world football during the course of a brilliant and long career, so the fact that he immediately honed in on the atmosphere at Ibrox tells you just how special a place it must be. When you get to the stage of your career that Defoe is at, you have to ask yourself whether you are happy to just settle for picking up your pay packet every week. Evidently, Defoe is a hugely driven player who wants to squeeze every last drop out of his playing days. What better place to do that than Ibrox? The fans are fierce, the atmosphere is electric, and if you can get yourself up and running then there is no reason why you can’t make yourself a hero very quickly. After a shaky start, Defoe is definitely on his way to doing just that.