Super Eagles and Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers has opened up on his future amidst talks linking him away from Ibrox, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 30-year-old signed a long-term deal with his partner, Rosalie Deruysscher, in June, marrying her in Italy after winning the Unity Cup with the Nigerian National Team at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford.
The ex-Cremonese man had agreed a £30,000-per-week deal with the 13-time Greek Champions AEK Athens, but Rangers rejected the bid.
Dessers also admitted he was in talks with Belgian side Club Brugge over a potential move, but nothing concrete happened.
Rangers boss Russell Martin admitted the Belgium-born Nigerian has stated his desire to exit Ibrox, should a fitting offer come in, but the ex-Southampton coach praised the experienced forward for keeping things professional whilst still seeking an exit.
Dessers recently recovered from an ankle injury, but mentioned he was angry at not being able to help Rangers in their 3-1 loss to Club Brugge in the first leg in Scotland.
Ahead of the return leg tonight, the former Feyenoord man spoke to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, and the Rangers forward insisted it’s not all over yet.
“It hasn’t been the easiest week, because these were the matches I’ve really been looking forward to. I really hope I can be there. If only because I’ve asked for so many tickets for family and friends.
“I mostly cursed those first twenty minutes. You go into that match optimistic and with good spirits, hoping to get into a good position for the second leg, but then you make things so difficult for yourself, and yet Club Brugge didn’t even have to do anything crazy.”
“They simply punished every mistake. Bam, bam, bam, and suddenly it was 0-3. You could see the team had to recover from that afterwards.
“In the second half, we were finally able to put our foot down, but of course, by then we were already behind,” the ex-Cremonese forward said.
Rangers have won just three of nine games under Russell Martin this term, and whilst that is considered a poor start by many, Dessers maintains the results do not justify the club's performances on the pitch, and the whole situation is just being blown out of proportion by the Scottish media.
“If there’s one thing you shouldn’t read or believe too much, it’s the Scottish media. Even when we won ten matches in a row under Philippe Clement two seasons ago, they found negative things to write about.
“So that pressure is always there. I also played for top clubs at Genk and Feyenoord, and if you lose or draw there, that’s also bad, but if that happens here, it’s a huge disaster, since there are only two title contenders, and the only rival immediately loses points.
“So that pressure isn’t any greater now than it has been in the past two years,” the ex-Genk man continued.
Rangers exit for Dessers?
As per Daily Record, Greek side Panathinaikos are weighing up a late offer for Dessers after losing their striker Fotis Ioannidis to Leeds United. The Belgium-born Nigerian previously agreed to a deal with AEK Athens, but Rangers rejected the offer.
Quizzed about a possible exit before the transfer window slams shut, Dessers said;
“To really answer your question: all I can say is that I’m at a fantastic club. It’s not easy, because there’s always something going on here and the pressure is always immense, but I genuinely think Rangers is one of the best clubs in the world.
“To get me out of here, everything will have to be right, and it will have to be for another special club,” Nigeria's Unity Cup hero concluded.
A win for Rangers will secure a spot for them in the UEFA Champions League Group Phase.
