Could you picture Andres Iniesta in the Scottish Premiership?
It was 2004 and Iniesta was 18 at the time. Alex McLeish was looking for Barry Ferguson’s replacement at Rangers.
It was 2004 and Iniesta was 18 at the time. Alex McLeish was looking for Barry Ferguson’s replacement at Rangers.
“Barcelona said Iniesta needed to get some action.”
“We were told that they would try and make some hay at Barcelona and get him over to us.”
“We were told that they would try and make some hay at Barcelona and get him over to us.”
McLeish used his assistant Jan Wouters' contacts in a bid to find a ball player capable of filling his skipper's boots.
The search took him to the Camp Nou, where Wouters' pal Frank Rijkaard was boss, and a loan deal for the midfield maestro looked to be on.
The search took him to the Camp Nou, where Wouters' pal Frank Rijkaard was boss, and a loan deal for the midfield maestro looked to be on.
Jan Wouters phoned Henk ten Cate, who was Rijkaard’s assistant at Barcelona. Jan asked if there was anybody we could get and was told about a young kid called Iniesta.
Rangers were downsizing and needed players of quality, who could take the ball in midfield.
Rangers had only a few years earlier taken Mikel Arteta from Barcelona and helped develop him into an international star before he moved onto Real Sociedad.
Rangers had only a few years earlier taken Mikel Arteta from Barcelona and helped develop him into an international star before he moved onto Real Sociedad.
They wanted Iniesta on loan. McLeish laughed: “I didn’t realise I had caused a s**t storm in Barcelona.”
“The Monday after Jan had made the call, Iniesta was moved into the first team.”
“The Monday after Jan had made the call, Iniesta was moved into the first team.”
Not only that, they also asked about another teenager called Lionel Messi. They were told to f*** off!
Loading suggestions...