BBC Sportscene pundit hits back at Celtic fan live on radio as Rangers sign Aaron Ramsey
BBC Sportscene pundit Marvin Bartley has hit back at a Celtic fan for saying Rangers’ new signing Aaron Ramsey wouldn’t get in the team at Parkhead.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst wrapped up a last-minute deal to sign Ramsey, 31, on a loan-to-buy basis from Juventus on deadline day.
It has understandably caused a huge reaction in Scottish football and Celtic fan Brian seemed to be having a bit of a meltdown over his Old Firm rivals doing great business at the end of January.
“I’ve got friends who are Arsenal fans and his nickname there was ‘Chocolate Legs’ so I would like him to go to Alloa or East Fife in the winter and see how his legs stand up,” said Brian, as shown in a clip on the Clyde 1 Superscoreboard Twitter account on Monday night [31 January].
Brian added: “I want them to sign him because I don’t think he’ll play the full season.” When asked if he’s worried by the Gers signing Ramsey, the Celtic fan continued: “Not at all, I think his team in Italy will be glad someone’s paying some of his wages.”
Bartley then interjected to say: “You’re saying you wouldn’t want Celtic to sign him?”
Brian said “definitely not” and then when asked by Bartley if he gets in the Celtic if he’s fit, the caller added: “With his injuries and stuff, he hasn’t got it for the physicality of Scottish football.”
Bartley then completely disagreed and said: “I think he still is at the peak of his powers, I think it’s just not worked out for him at Juventus and these things happen in football.
“If he can stay injury-free, I really do think – and I’m not being disrespectful – he’s going to be above every other centre midfielder in this league. And I rate Callum McGregor hugely, I really, really do.
“I just feel Aaron Ramsey is another level. I think he would be the best centre midfielder in our league.”
Deluded
If Ramsey joined Celtic on deadline day, you would think that Ange Postecoglou had signed Lionel Messi or something.
Ramsey is 31, he’s had a poor spell at Juventus and he’s had injury issues in his career.
However, he’s also someone who’s won three FA Cups, a Serie A title, won 71 caps for Wales, played at the European Championships, the Olympics and in the Champions League and played 262 times in the English Premier League.
It seems that the biggest thing Celtic fans bring up about Ramsey is his injury record and that’s fair enough.
But loads of players have injury issues in their careers, even really good ones do. Celtic fans should know, Kieran Tierney is a very recent example.
Ramsey’s injury history isn’t great but Rangers still have a quality midfield that is good enough to win the league without the Welshman, so just having him involved as well makes it even better.
They’re just scared, in truth.
We’ve signed a really big-name player who not many would have thought would ever move to Scottish football.
However, he’s here. And he’s at Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, this signing went under the radar at Ibrox with an English teenager showing himself at Ibrox close to the deadline.