“That’s football” – Rangers star wanted out, but not devastated he’s still at Ibrox

Rangers star Nicolas Raskin has admitted he wanted out of Ibrox this summer but isn’t devastated to still be at the club.

Raskin had looked likely to leave Rangers this summer after a strong performance at the World Cup with Belgium.

A move to Besiktas was in the final stages late in the window, with a deal agreed between them and Rangers. But a late decision to change the agreement terms from Rangers saw that deal collapse at the last minute, much to the annoyance of the Turkish side.

That annoyance even spread to Belgium, where Philippe Albert made his feelings on the matter very clear in the days after the close of the window.

“Nicolas Raskin doesn’t belong in Scotland,” he said.

“In recent years, he has proven he is a cut above the rest. He’s Rangers’ best player. It’s a club with a rich history but one that is currently adrift, winning few trophies and, what’s more, already eliminated from European competition.

“I respect the Scottish league, but a guy like Raskin is wasting his time there. As for not getting a transfer? I don’t understand why no Premier League club made a move.”

What Raskin has said about Rangers

In his head, Raskin should be somewhere other than Rangers. And the midfielder is happy admit he was thinking similarly.

“It is a bit of a disappointment, because I was mentally ready to leave,” he said of his “complicated summer” to Sporza.

“But that’s football, and it’s not a big deal. There are many factors and off-field issues to consider when it comes to a transfer.”

It would be easy to imagine that he’s not particularly interested in being at Ibrox at this moment in time. But he’s not looking at it that way. Instead, he insists that he’s looking at the positives.

“Ultimately, I’m not in a position where I absolutely have to leave,” he added.

“Rangers is a good club; I’m playing regularly, we have a great squad this year, and we’re achieving good things. If you ask me whether I wanted to take the next step and keep progressing, I’d say yes.”