Cyriel Dessers: Ready for Ibrox Challenge

Since Emerging as the top scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2019-2020 season, Cyriel Dessers has been on radar of Glasgow Rangers but a deal failed to materialise, but with the exit of Ibrox main man- Alfredo Morelos, at the end of the season, Rangers’ egg heads pressed harder and eventually got their long-time target. The Nigerian has however admitted it will be hard to fill the void left by Morelos’ departure but he is determined to be his own man at Ibrox

Nigeria international, Cyriel Dessers became Rangers’ sixth summer signing , after Jack Butland, Kieran Dowell, Sam Lammers, Dujon Sterling and Abdallah Sima; the striker has joined from Cremonese on a four-year deal; he replaces Alfredo Morelos after his departure at the end of the season

The New Rangers striker indeed admitted Morelos will be a hard act to follow, but insists he is ready to impress  and  determined to be his own man at Ibrox.

The 28-year-old Nigeria striker became Michael Beale’s sixth signing of the summer transfer window when he joined from Cremonese on a four-year deal for a reported fee of around £4.5m.

Dessers will be expected to take over from Colombia striker, who became a fans’ favourite during his six years in Govan where he scored 124 goals before his contract ran out at the end of the season.

Speaking at a media conference from Rangers’ training base in Germany, Dessers said: “Of course Alfredo did amazing things for Rangers at Ibrox so it is never easy to come after a good striker like he was.

“But on the other side, I cannot look at the past.

“I am here for the present and for the future and I hope to do some nice things, some good things for Rangers as well and I hope I can build a similar relationship with the fans but that will depend on our relationship and the things I do on the pitch and off the pitch.

“So, I am confident that can work.”

The former Utrecht, Heracles Almelo and Genk player looks forward to a “new wind” at Ibrox.

He said: “Rangers of course is a massive club: the history, the stadium, the fans, even the city, everything is amazing.

“But apart from that, of course I spoke with the manager as well and he spoke about what is going on now.

“After not such an easy season, there is a new wind at the club and I want to be a part of that.

“I am at a good age right now, 28 is the perfect age where you are physically at your top level and you have gained some experience from the last years.

“So, I think that is a perfect time to play for trophies and hopefully win some trophies and of course the mentality of Rangers, which is present at this moment in the team already, is clear and it is clear that I want to be a part of that.

“I think I can bring some things, not only football-wise but mentality-wise in the locker room and I hope I can play a role as well in that.”

Former Celtic boss, Neil Lennon, revealed earlier in the week that Dessers had been on his radar while he was at Celtic but the Belgium-born forward is happy to be at the other side of Glasgow.

Dessers said: “I didn’t know about that at the time.

“I spoke a couple of times with Rangers in the past years and the contact has always been close so I am happy to finally be here now.

“The first contact came during Covid and it was a difficult time for a lot of clubs to make deals and after that there was always contact and casual conversations.

“If you scored goals you will probably be on some club’s radar but that is not an issue, I am happy to be here.”

Cremonese will receive a guaranteed fee of five million euros plus 1.5 million euros in performance-related add-ons.

Dessers had been on the radar of Rangers since he emerged the top scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie with 15 goals in 2019-2020 season but a deal did not materialise until this month.

The former Heracles Almelo goal poacher admitted that he was wanted by Belgian, Dutch and Italian clubs this summer but decided to pick Rangers over his other suitors.

“It’s not easy to call the names of the clubs that wanted me this summer, I don’t think they will be happy if I do that,” Dessers told reporters at the press conference.

“Of course, I had some options to stay in Italy, there were also some other options again in Belgium and the Netherlands. I don’t think it’s smart to name the clubs here.

“Rangers is massive and I like what is happening here, the group, players already here and the manager who has a really good idea of what he wants on and off the pitch is fundamental for me.

“That’s why I made the choice, I looked at the training ground, I looked at the stadium, I looked at how the club wants to work very professionally, and that’s something I was looking for so it was pretty easy choice actually.” The Nigerian’s excellent performance for Cremonese entered the books of some European clubs, who were vying for his services during the transfer window.

Although, his excellent performance could not save Cremonese Serie A stay after 21 losses and five wins, which relegated them to the second division.

Dessers, having finally pursued growth by joining the Scottish side, has been praised by Lennon, who has labelled him as a “big, powerful player with a little bit of technique sometimes, with the soft feet”.

Rangers are slated to hold their first preseason game against English Premier League side Newcastle United on July 18, and Dessers is expected to lead the line for the Light Blues.

Dessers previously played for Dutch clubs Heracles Almelo, NAC Breda, FC Utrecht and Feyenoord, and in Belgium with Oud-Heverlee Leuven, Lokeren and Racing Genk.