Jack Butland is someone who immediately got what it means to play for Rangers.
The goalkeeper instantly realised, and relished, the magnitude of being a player at Ibrox and is comfortable with the expectation around it.
So comfortable, in fact, that he ignored the chance for a return to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest to stay and try to challenge for trophies.
He’s been at big clubs with fan bases before, none more so than Manchester United, but Rangers has its own unique differences even to that.
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Rangers keeper Butland almost missed Manchester United chance
Before heading up to Ibrox, Butland had a loan spell at Manchester United from Crystal Palace, where he hadn’t really been playing.
The England international jumped at the chance to move to Old Trafford when it came in January 2023.
However, he has now revealed the move could have happened six months prior but was scuppered.
A deal was being discussed between the two clubs but Butland wasn’t really aware, and played in a pre-season friendly which was ironically against the Red Devils.
He picked up an injury and that meant United swooped for Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka on loan instead. But the Magpies recalled him in the January, paving the way for Butland’s dream move to finally happen.
“I happened to break my hand against United during pre-season,” the 31-year-old told FourFourTwo. “The deal was developing in the background and I wasn’t fully aware – hindsight would have made me pull out of that game, potentially.
“It happened in January and it was a no-brainer for me. It was a hell of an experience. I would love to have stepped out on the pitch for them, but I wasn’t prepared to wait for that to happen – careers are short and I had to get back playing. I needed to wrestle some control back.
“It was six months of my life that could prove to be one of the most significant periods I’ve ever had: it reminded me what I’m really capable of, and that’s what gave me the confidence to step away.”
How Butland decided on move to Rangers
A a back-up goalie for half a season, he didn’t feature for United. But as he said, just being at a club of that magnitude reminded him how how good he is and built his confidence back up.
He then wanted his next move to be to a significant club where he could go and do something big and soon after was pitching up at Ibrox under previous boss Michael Beale.
Butland added: “Near the end of 2022/23, I wanted to take control of my future; to go somewhere and achieve something. That’s where Rangers came in.”
