Rangers star was 'mentally ready to leave' Ibrox in the summer as late transfer window chaos explained
Ibrox mainstay was the subject of widespread transfer interest during the summer window
Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin revealed he was ‘mentally ready to leave’ the club earlier this month amid transfer interest from Turkish giants Besiktas.
After a strong World Cup with his native Belgium, the 25-year old looked destined for a move away from Ibrox, with potential suitors all over Europe. Besiktas in particular showed a keen interest towards the end of the transfer window, to the point where Raskin was left out of Rangers squads during the speculation, however as the move fell through at the 11th hour, he remained in Derek McInnes’ camp.
Since then, the Belgian has been a mainstay in the middle of the park for the manager - and as he’s now one of the longest-serving players in the squad, his experience and quality could be vital for the season ahead. In January 2023, Raskin signed for the Light Blues from Standard Liege on a long term contract, keeping him at the club until 2028.
What was Raskin’s reaction to the summer transfer speculation?
As the midfielder now returns to international duty with Belgium for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, he reflected on the summer transfer speculation surrounding him. He told the Daily Record: “On the morning of September 1, they called me to say there was an offer from Besiktas, that there was interest, and that an agreement was almost reached.
"But I had a match that evening. On the bus to the game, I was still on the phone hesitating, and an hour later I already had to play. You don't have time to hesitate. But I turned it down, switched gears, and played the match. Besiktas is also a very good club; they play in the Europa League and are competing for trophies in Turkey. But I am also very happy where I am now. We have achieved good results here as well. The timing wasn't perfect. But I want to keep doing my best now, and we'll see what happens in the next transfer windows."
Midfielder was ‘ready to leave Ibrox’
He continued: "It is a bit of a disappointment, because I was mentally ready to leave. But that is football and it is not a big deal. There are many parameters and off-field matters you have to take into account during a transfer.
“Ultimately, I am not in a position where I necessarily have to leave. Rangers is a good club, I am playing my matches, we have a great squad this year and are doing great things. If you ask me if I wanted to take a step forward and keep moving forward, I say yes.”
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