Paul Gascoigne disclosed that he passed over three massive Premier League teams to join Rangers, not giving them a second thought.

Paul Gascoigne disclosed that he passed over three massive Premier League teams to join Rangers, not giving them a second thought.

Paul Gascoigne disclosed that in 1995, he declined offers to sign with two of the biggest teams in the Premier League in order to join Rangers. Though he only spent three years of his legendary career in Glasgow, the Geordie genius went on to become a legend for the Ibrox club. Gazza moved from Lazio to Gers, where he went on to establish himself as one of the best players Scottish football has ever seen—at least in the last 30 years. Amazingly, he earned the SFWA Footballer of the Year and PFA Scotland Player of the Year titles in his debut season with the Double-winning Rangers.

Another league title would follow the next campaign as well as a Scottish League Cup winners medal. All in all, Gazza scored 39 goals in 104 appearances for Rangers before leaving for Middlesbrough in a deal worth around £3.45m.
Even now, Rangers fans still hold Gascoigne in high regard, and he will never tire of talking passionately about his time spent playing for one of the most successful clubs in history. He even went so far as to imply that Gazza would experience his tenure at Rangers again if he could turn time back.

Gascoigne turned down Chelsea and Aston Villa
Speaking to the Rangers Museum Lotto in 2022, Paul Gascoigne recalled the time he was told by his Lazio manager at the time, Dino Zoff, that three British clubs wanted to sign him.

Those were Chelsea, Aston Villa and Rangers – but Gazza wasted no time in choosing who he wanted to play for after having to clarify it was Glasgow Rangers and not Queen’s Park Rangers.

He said: “I was in holiday in Tampa once and I saw Walter Smith and said to my wife at the time that I would love to play for him one day

Years ago, Terry Butcher warned me about making fun of Scottish football until I gave it a try, and he turned out to be correct. Dino Zoff informed me that Rangers, Chelsea, and Aston Villa were interested in signing me as I was leaving Lazio. “He informed me it was Glasgow Rangers and that was it, even though I told him I didn’t want to sign for Queens Park Rangers. I told them to get over it immediately! “I informed Walter that playing football with a grin on my face was what I was missing when I met with him. He was right when he said that I would receive that here because I wasn’t receiving it in Italy. I had blonde here and Rangers when I registered.

“I almost signed with Leeds, but I ultimately turned them down and joined Rangers,” Gascoigne remarked. Leeds was the only English team I would have chosen to play for, although Chelsea also wanted to recruit me. However, I ultimately joined the Rangers. Terry Butcher advised going there and giving it a go because Gordon Durie and Ally McCoist were present. “It would have been the same with Leeds, but I went there and never looked back. However, I was unaware that the following England match was at Elland Road after I signed with Rangers, and I was humiliated!”

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