GERRARD FACTOR KEY FOR CROATIAN STAR
Katic admits Gers move was no-brainer with Stevie as boss...
NIKOLA KATIC admits the chance to work with Steven Gerrard was too good to turn down after he clinched a move to Rangers.
The defender became the fifth signing of the summer for boss Gerrard as he put pen to paper on a four-year deal with the Light Blues yesterday.
Katic had attracted interest from Russian giants Spartak Moscow after catching the eye for Croatian outfit Slaven Belupo.
But he is delighted to secure a switch to Scotland as he prepares to get down to business with Gerrard’s side this term.
Katic said: “It is a big pleasure to be here as this is one big club, one of the biggest in Europe and in the world. It is good to be here and this is a big step for me.
“When they told me Steven Gerrard wanted to take me, I told my agent I’d get
my shoes on and run to Scotland!
“He is a legend of football all over the world and I am glad to be here with him.
“It’s a big club in a strong league. I can play in Europe and play in front of 50,000 fans at every home game. It’s wonderful and a really good step for me.
“I am the sort of player who likes a duel, and in Scotland, the type of football I think is for me. There are a lot of longballs and a lot of duels, and that is what I like.
“I’ve seen the stadium on television and I have read about the fans and the rivalry with Celtic. It is really great and I cannot wait to play here.”
Katic made his international bow in the win over Mexico last May and has become the fourth Croatian to join the Gers as he follows in the footsteps of Dado Prso, Nikica Jelavic and Niko Kranjcar.
And the 21-year-old reckons his move to Ibrox will help him go from strength to strength in the coming seasons.
He told RangersTV: “Sure. It will help me as Croatia has so many players at good clubs – Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool – and it is hard to come from the Croatian league to play in the Croatian national team.
“But Rangers is a good step to show to the national manager that I can play for the national team.
“Everyone has said they [the former players] did a good job here, and now I have a job to hold that tradition here.
“I want to train hard every day and help the team to get better results in every game, and to try and win the Scottish league and cup.
“Rangers needs to be in with the top European clubs, and I will try with the other players to move this club to the top of European football.”