Ryan Kent has blasted his former club Liverpool accusing them of lying to him over his future before sealing his £7.5m move to Rangers.
The 22-year-old winger signed for Rangers from Liverpool on the final day of the Scottish transfer window having spent the whole of last season there on loan.
Rangers reportedly failed to persuade Liverpool to sanction another season-long loan before a permanent deal agreement.
Jurgen Klopp made it clear there was no space for Kent at Anfield. The protracted nature of the transfer deal left the 22-year-old frustrated.
Kent’s feelings
He said, “It was very tough. I had to stay strong mentally.”
“When you are told you can do one thing and then it doesn’t happen, that is quite hard to take.”
“I just had to keep myself fit and train on my own and make sure I keep my fitness levels up. I was ready for this moment.”
“There is no bitter taste. What I wanted from the start happened in the end. I am just happy with that,” Kent added.
“There were probably some slight concerns along the way when I thought this might not happen and I might have to plan for something else. But I always had a feeling that I might go to the last day of the window and that’s what happened.”
The move to Rangers rarely came off. But Kent wouldn’t have remained at Anfield either way. He was at the airport waiting to board a plane when the call came that Rangers wanted him.
“I was already checked in and sitting in the departure lounge at Manchester airport. That is when I received a call from my agent and the gaffer saying, “don’t go on the flight.”
“I was getting ready to fly out and sign for Club Brugge.”
Kent came through Liverpool’s academy and had loan spells at Coventry City, Barnsley, Freiburg and Bristol Rovers. Nevertheless, he says Rangers is the first club where he has truly felt at home.
“For once in my life, I have felt at home somewhere, to be enjoying my football. I want that feeling for the rest of my career. I felt that for the first time I came here.”
“The manager and the coaching staff believe in me. Mick Beale had me as a kid at Liverpool and he got the best out of me. I started to flourish as a young kid coming through at Liverpool and obviously, the fans get the best out of you.”