Two-time Italian international striker Andrea Caracciolo has confirmed that he turned down a move to Rangers in 2008 to stay closer to his family in Brescia.
The Milan-born forward came close to joining Rangers in January 2008 with the striker out of favour at Sampdoria and the Gers enlisted the help of fellow Italian Lorenzo Amoruso in an attempt to sweeten the deal.
However, at the final moment the deal fell through and Andrea Caracciolo has been explaining that family came first even if the move to Rangers was appealing.
“It was just what I needed at that moment because I came from that experience at Sampdoria where I played little and therefore it gave me butterflies in my stomach,” said Caracciolo [SampNews24].
“Then at Brescia I have always been well, I have many friends, many good experiences and I wanted to go home.
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“It was not only Rangers who wanted me, but also Torino. I could also have chosen very well to stay in Serie A, but the call from home was too strong and exciting.”
Walter Smith flew to Italy to convince Andrea Caracciolo over Rangers move
As the Daily Record reported at the time, Rangers missed out on an 11th hour bid to sign Andrea Caracciolo but did sign Steven Davis – and he didn’t exactly do too badly.
Legendary Rangers manager Walter Smith and then chief executive Martin Bain even jetted to Milan to flesh out the details of the deal but to no avail.
Then 26-years-old Andrea Caracciolo was once one of the most highly rated prospects in the Italian game and the 6ft4 striker could’ve been a huge hit in Glasgow.
But the striker opted to move on loan to Brescia instead and the rest is history.
Spending his entire career in Italy – playing for the likes of Palermo, Sampdoria, Brescia and Genoa – Andrea Caracciolo was branded “crazy” by ex-Gers skipper Lorenzo Amoruso for turning down the move [Daily Record].
Meanwhile, Rangers’ Europa League rivals Red Star Belgrade have been caught up in a sponsorship storm with UEFA.