Todd Cantwell sends message to those ‘battering’ him after new Rangers interaction online
Rangers fans spotted something amiss in Todd Cantwell’s happy birthday message to James Tavernier.
Cantwell departed Rangers for Blackburn Rovers in August 2024 after an 18-month spell at Ibrox, with Tavernier his captain during his time in Glasgow.
Rangers fans were divided on Cantwell, who showed signs of the precocious talent that saw him catch the eye at Norwich City early in his career but often found himself embroiled in controversy or criticised for a perceived lack of effort.
He has remained active in following the club, with Cantwell reacting to the ultimately doomed appointment of Russell Martin at Rangers earlier this year and sending a one-word message to Jack Butland after Rangers faced Panathinaikos.
Now, Cantwell has taken the time to send a message to Tavernier, who turned 34 on Friday, on Instagram but eagle-eyed supporters spotted something was not quite right.
Todd Cantwell has a horror with birthday message to James Tavernier
Cantwell took to Instagram to send two messages on his stories to Tavernier, the first of which read: “Happy Birthday main man @jamestavernier2.”
The 27-year-old followed up with a second post, showing him receiving a booking in Rangers colours with Tavernier watching on, with the caption: “My skip @jamestavernier2.”
However, Cantwell’s posts were sent on Saturday 1 November, and Rangers fans were clearly keen to point out that he was a day late with his messages of goodwill.
It seems the Light Blues supporters may have touched a nerve as Cantwell followed up with a third post that read: “I meant to put belated for you all hammering me.”
However, the use of the laughing face emoji suggests that Cantwell’s tongue was likely firmly in his cheek and that the messages pointing out his error were received in good fun.
What did Todd Cantwell say when he left Rangers?
Cantwell departed Ibrox under somewhat of a cloud, and Rangers fans remain split on where they stand on their former attacking midfielder.
His exit under Philippe Clement in the summer of 2024 was pretty acrimonious, with two transfer requests handed in and Cantwell training away from the first team.
- Cantwell made 64 appearances for Rangers during his 18-month spell at the club.
- The attacking midfielder scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists in Rangers colours.
- He departed for Blackburn in August 2024 after not seeing eye-to-eye with Clement.
However, he would later say – in quotes reported by Sky Sports – that elements of his exit were “twisted” and that he never refused to play for the club.
“I loved my time at Rangers. It is a special, special football club,” he said.
“When a new manager comes in they have to put their stamp on things, and I think we had a bounce last season when we got in a really good position to go on and do well.
“I have full respect for the manager at Rangers now but I didn’t believe it was the right place for me to be and they were personal reasons.
“I think there is a little bit of a misconception about how my time was at Rangers. It has been twisted a little bit in the goldfish bowl.
“It was his decision to tell the press that it was my decision. We spoke internally for a while and ultimately couldn’t find a happy medium for both.
“I certainly didn’t leave because I was being kicked out of the door. It felt like the right time as a player to move on.
“Me and the manager didn’t see us going in the same direction in the same way, at the same time. It is nothing personal.
“The manager has a lot of players to deal with as well. I love the club so much.”
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