One thing that was always clear about Michael Beale was his passion for football and his role in Rangers recruitment of players like Todd Cantwell can’t be downplayed.
He might not have been able to implement his ideas onto the pitch but the number of players who said that the ex-Gers boss persuaded them to head to Glasgow isn’t a coincidence.
Speaking to The Beautiful Game Podcast, Rangers playmaker Todd Cantwell has revealed how he was sold on heading to Ibrox.
Rangers decision revealed as Todd Cantwell talks Beale influence
Rangers signing a player approaching his peak who was once rated as high as £50m isn’t a regular occurrence.
Interest from the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur was reported and the player himself speaks on the podcast about how close he came to moving to Bayern Munich.
Despite this, Rangers was his next destination after leaving Norwich City and, as told to The Beautiful Game Podcast, Todd Cantwell has explained why:
“I chose the footballing option and spoke to Michael and Ross Wilson, who was the sporting director and I had conversations with a bit of back and forward for a couple of weeks.
“And d’you know what, I met the manager in London and I was speaking to him and he was so passionate about football, about Rangers and passionate about me and I didn’t have that for a little while.
“It was refreshing for me to have someone go, ‘do you know how good you are? Do you actually know how good you are?”
Despite what some might think south of the border, Rangers remains an attractive option for players like Todd Cantwell who know their football.
We can’t match the wages of the Premier League but, competing for trophies, playing in Europe, having elite training facilities and a magnificent stadium that is packed every other week is a lot to turn down if the alternative is a relegation battle.
Since the disastrous Old Firm derby that we really should have won, Rangers have missed Todd Cantwell’s drive and personality.
Hopefully, if he returns this week as planned, he doesn’t just remember how good he is but shows everyone too.
