Ally McCoist reacts to major Aaron Ramsey signing for Rangers
Ally McCoist ‘couldn’t believe’ Rangers were signing Aaron Ramsey on deadline day and thinks he’s the club’s biggest signing since Paul Gascoigne.
Rangers completed a shock loan signing for the former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder in a last-gasp deal, adding him to their squad for the rest of the season.
Legendary striker McCoist was appearing on talkSPORT on Tuesday morning after the deal was officially completed and announced, and believed that the signing was brilliant for Scottish football as a whole.
“What a signing man,” he said. “I mean I couldn’t believe. I think I texted Scott or he texted me, I got the word it might be on earlier on yesterday. You know those ones where you’re thinking ‘ahhh’, unbelievable.
“People were sending me pictures of jets arriving at Glasgow airport and all that. Honestly, I’m not kidding you. It was brilliant stuff. Then obviously the news broke. It reminded me, just seeing all the footage and all that stuff, it reminded me a little bit of Gascoigne arriving at Ibrox all those years ago.
“I don’t know, yeah. Off the top of my head, it would have to be [the biggest signing since Gascoigne]. I don’t remember the last time we signed somebody from Juventus. Somebody with that pedigree.
“I know he hasn’t been playing an awful lot recently, but if we can get him fit and get him in that team, deary me.”
Seismic signing
McCoist is spot on when he says this is the biggest signing Rangers have made this side of the 21st century.
The only signing comparable since Gascoigne was the signing of Ronald De Boer in 2000, but Ramsey’s profile and reputation are surely bigger and trumps it.
He will bring great quality to a team that has struggled recently, as they go head-to-head with Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title.
His eye for goal, his passing, his excellent touch and his leadership are all things that the club have been missing in midfield this season and with Joe Aribo and Glen Kamara alongside him, they have a great chance of success in Europe too.
Fans will be absolutely buzzing now heading into the Old Firm derby on Wednesday and while Ramsey may not be available from the start, his mere presence in a blue shirt could be enough to get them back on track.
In other Rangers news, Rangers to pay £2m to secure deadline day loan deal, buy-option included – report