Celtic fan and Republic of Ireland midfielder David Meyler claims he was once asked the question about moving to Rangers.
The former Hull City midfielder grew up in Cork and claims that with his agency WMG Company also representing Steven Gerrard, he got a phone call asking him about a prospective move.
However, Meyler claims he could never sign for Rangers such would be the ill-feeling back home in the Republic of Ireland.
“My agent currently works for WMG Company and they look after Steven Gerrard,” said Meyler [OTB Sports].
“I don’t know if a conversation happened but I got a phone call one day saying, ‘would you sign for Rangers?’
“That was straight away shot down, I just said ‘no’.
“I grew up supporting Celtic. Obviously being a proud Irish football player and man, I don’t think I’d have been accepted back home.
“I come from a staunch Celtic fanbase in Cork, they have a huge following there, so I don’t think I’d be able to return to Cork if I did!
“Genuinely, I don’t think any amount of money would have been worth it and that’s the truth.
“It would have been one of those that would have been uncomfortable for my family, my parents obviously living back in Cork and anytime I would return home, Celtic are huge in Cork, and no I couldn’t have done it.”
Meyler’s comments come months after former Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty, from north of the border in Northern Ireland, said similar about joining Celtic.
The lanky Ulsterman was the subject of interest from our Parkhead rivals before joining Rangers from Burnley in 2008, but appeared much more open-minded about a move.
“Obviously Celtic, massive club, the chance of winning trophies, cups, Champions League,” said Lafferty [Open Goal].
“It was difficult to turn down a club like that but I don’t think I would have been able to go back home.
“It just would have been so hard. I was in and about the Northern Ireland team, I was a young boy, an up and coming star in the team!
“I think it would have been hard for me and hard my family back in Northern Ireland as well, just with everything that came with it.
“I did speak to Gordon, Gordon rang me and spoke to me. He said ‘listen big man, Celtic fans hated me, but look at me now, they worship me!’
“No, he did speak to me, he said all the right things. But I couldn’t have done it. Thankfully the better team in Scotland came knocking.”
The last player to boldly cross the Irish divide which exists between Rangers and Celtic was ex-Dundee United striker Jon Daly.
The former Republic of Ireland youth international spent two seasons at Rangers between 2013 and 2015 and enjoyed a fruitful spell during his first year at the club, scoring 25 goals in League One.
Daly has since spoken about playing for Rangers as being a “dream” and heralded the Rangers fans as “excellent” and “really welcoming”.
However, Daly did reveal that he received hate mail which claimed “his family would be disappointed” after signing for the Gers [Glasgow Times].