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Rangers SquadMarco Negri
Marco Negri
Date of Birth: ?
Filippo Maniero will today join Parma from Verona in a £3.5 million deal. Reports in Italy earlier in the week claimed that the former Sampdoria striker was poised to sign for Rangers. The Ibrox club may now switch their attention to Perugia front man Marco Negri. Negri scored 15 goals in Serie A last season and is regarded as one of the top strikers in Italy.
Rangers beat off a late bid from Napoli yesterday to land Perugia front man Marco Negri from Perugia for £3.7 million. David Murray admitted, "we had already submitted our bid and come to an agreement with the club and the player when Napoli tried to get him for £4.5 million. But by that time the deal had been done and we are delighted to have signed such a good, strong player."
Negri has a reputation in Italy for refusing to talk to the media but yesterday he spoke freely to the press using his agent as an interpreter. He said, "being relegated with Perugia was the worst experience of my life. I have been lucky that a club as big as Rangers have come in for me. It's an amazing transformation. Two weeks ago, I was going to Serie B but now I am in the Champions League, I couldn't refuse to come here. When you play football as a youngster you have a dream and you hope that one day it will become a reality. Today is that day for me, it is wonderful to be here."
Negri continued, "I am aware that Rangers have signed some other Italians. But I would have accepted the Rangers offer even if I was the only Italian here. I am just delighted to be coming to such a big club and I am looking forward to the next few seasons. I am aware that Rangers have been a great club over the years and they are bringing many foreign players here because they want to be successful in Europe. Together with the other new players, I would like to give the Rangers supporters the chance to be successful in Europe next season."
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