Why Dan Neil chose Rangers, and the Sunderland alumni who shaped his decision | OneFootball

Dan Neil has joined Rangers on a three-year deal after the club unveiled the midfielder on Wednesday. He chose the move after seeking guidance from former Sunderland figures, notably Jermain Defoe.

"Dan Neil called me the other day and asked if he could have two minutes of my time to speak about Rangers," Jermain Defoe told Sky Sports. "And before he even spoke, I said: 'Dan, you have got to go, honestly.' You are a young player, and if you get a chance to go to Rangers at this stage of your career and play in front of some of the best fans I have experienced, you have to go."

"If you want a challenge, you have to go. The demand up there is to run around, work hard, and give everything for that shirt. But you have to win as well."

Neil said he spoke to Defoe, Graeme Murty, who worked at Rangers for a number of years before his spell at Sunderland, and Ross Stewart, who is from Glasgow. He added that there was interest from a number of top Championship clubs but the size of Rangers and the chance to compete for trophies appealed. "They pretty much made my mind up for me," he said.

Neil said Defoe stressed the scale of the club and the opportunity to fight for trophies and titles. "If I do well up here people will love me because football is everything in this city," Neil said, adding that the expectation felt similar to Sunderland and drives him to give 110 per cent day in and day out.

Source: Sunderland Echo